Vitello named Baseball America Coach of the Year

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Tennessee baseball head coach Tony Vitello was named National Coach of the Year by Baseball America.

This is the second media outlet to name the Vols skipper as the nation’s best coach for 2024. He first received the honor last month from the American Baseball Coaches Association.

It’s the first time he’s received the top honor from Baseball America but his fifth coach of the year award overall.

Vitello helped lead the Vols to the first national title in program history and a 60-13 record. It was a program record for wins and the first time an SEC team reached the 60-win mark.

Tennessee became the first No. 1 overall seed to win the national title since Miami in 1999. They are the only No. 1 seeds to do so since the switch to the modern postseason format in 1999.

Vitello had previously won national coach of the year in 2021 by Perfect Game and the National College Baseball Writers Association. He was also tabbed coach of the year by Perfect Game in 2022.

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