The Tennessee Volunteers won their first baseball National Championship on Monday night. After three trips to Omaha in the last four years, you could say it was only a matter of time until the Vols won the big one. But if you looked at the state of the Tennessee baseball program 10 years ago, winning a title in 2024 is even more impressive. And the head coach is responsible for such a remarkable turnaround.
Tony Vitello Transformed Tennessee Into A National Power In Six Years.
John Currie didn't do much right in his brief stint as the University of Tennessee Athletic Director, but one good thing he did was hire Tony Vitello. Some say it was the only smart move he pulled in his 10-month tenure in Knoxville. Vitello took over a program that had not finished higher than 5th in the SEC East since 2007.
He made an impact right off the bat. Tennessee finished with a 40-21 record in his second season. The Volunteers had not won 40 games in a season since 2005. They also finished with a 14-16 SEC record. While that may not sound impressive, it was the most conference wins in a season since that same '05 campaign. The program was off and running from there. Over the next four years, excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 season, The Vols won 212 games. They also made four NCAA Tournament appearances, including three trips to the College World Series. And the fans certainly took notice.
Tennessee baseball attendance numbers more than doubled between 2017 and 2023. They even set a home opener attendance record with just under 4,700 fans to begin the 2024 season. The Vols' home, Lindsey Nelson Stadium, is set to continue a multi-year renovation project this offseason. Once complete, the stadium will hold roughly 7,600 people. That is a far cry from the 1,900 fans they averaged back in '17.
So how did Tony V make such a big impact in such a short amount of time? Culture. He transformed the Tennessee baseball culture from being used to a .500 record, into a program that expects to beat every team in their path.
It's no secret that Vitello is a bit of a hothead. That has rubbed some people the wrong way over the years. He can often be seen yelling at umpires from the dugout and was even suspended for bumping one in 2022.
One could view Vitello, to put it politely, as a jerk. On the other hand, it could also be viewed as sticking up for his players. That is just one reason some of the best players in the country love to play for him. He lets his guys express themselves and have fun playing the game. This has led to a culture of bat flips, rowdy celebrations, and most importantly, winning. This is the culture that the people of Knoxville, Tennessee have fallen in love with over the past few years.
After winning the National Championship on Monday, some people, even pitcher Zander Sechrist are calling for Vitello to get a lifetime contract. While I'm not a huge fan of that idea, just look at Kentucky basketball to see how Cal's lifetime deal worked out, Tony should be able to name his year and salary during his next contract negotiation.
Vitello will always have his fair share of critics. They'll say he's a "jerk," or "obnoxious." That's fine. But those same people will also have to acknowledge what he really is: National Champion.
It would not be a surprise if a Tony Vitello statue is built outside Lindsey Nelson Stadium when it is all said and done.
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