Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello signs new 5-year contract after national title

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello has signed a new five-year contract after leading the Volunteers to a national championship.

The contract, announced by athletic director Danny White on Friday, runs through June 30, 2029. It follows the Vols’ run to their first College World Series title that earned Vitello multiple national coach of the year honors.

Terms of the deal weren’t announced.

“Tony and his staff have developed the country’s top baseball program, and we are excited to announce this long-term extension to keep Tony on Rocky Top,” White said in a statement. “As an athletics department, we aim to lead the way in college sports, and Tony has created a baseball program that sets the standard across the entire sport.

“The on-field results in the nation’s best conference are unmatched, and the enthusiasm he has brought to Vol Nation has been incredible to witness.”

The Vols made it to the CWS finals for the first time since the 1951 team lost to Oklahoma in the championship game. They beat Texas A&M 6-5 in the decisive Game 3.

“Our staff and our program take confidence in the fact that our administration is more invested in our sport than anywhere else in the country when you consider resources, their commitment to our staff and the stadium project,” Vitello said in a statement.

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AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports