Fan favorite Kirby Connell reportedly coming back to Tennessee baseball in a different way in 2025

There's little doubt that former Tennessee Vols hurler Kirby Connell is going to go down as one of the most memorable pitchers in Tennessee baseball history.  The mustachioed left hander was a key piece of the bullpen on the Vols' first-ever national championship squad.

His mustache is unrivaled in collegiate athletics.  It earned him one of the greatest nicknames of all time.

Now, Vol fans will be able to continue to get a glimpse of the legendary facial style in 2025 and perhaps beyond. According to Jeff Birchfield of the Kingsport Times News , Connell, who hails from Johnson City, said he's accepted a position on Tony Vitello's staff during an appearance at Braeden's BBQ in Kingsport.

"My future is going into coaching,” Birchfield quotes Connell as saying. “Coach Vitello has given me the opportunity to stay on the coaching staff. It will be fun.”

What makes Connell perfect for the role is his ability to relate with the players.  There's little doubt that he's been universally revered as a positive influence on the roster, which is evident with the effusive praise he receives from every single teammate every time he comes off the field after recording a big out.

He never had the top end stuff on the pitching roster.  Likely at the bottom if we're talking about pure physical talent.  But perhaps no one on the entire roster did more with what they had than Connell.  That takes more of a reliance on form and the mental side of the game than being able to blow a 98-mph fastball by a guy.  Location, pitch type and speed variation become paramount.

As such, between the interpersonal side of things and his mechanics, Connell seems like a perfect fit to help mold the talent and production of Tennessee pitching for years to come.

Related: Todd Helton thanked former Tennessee football coach during Hall of Fame speech for a simple one liner that stuck with him