Tony Vitello gets six-point bonus for Tennessee’s baseball national title

Tennessee won its first national championship in baseball with a thrilling 6-5 victory on Monday night in Omaha Texas A&M in the winner-take-all third game of the College World Series Finals, and Tony Vitello A six-figure bonus is up for grabs for taking home the Walls to the top. The seventh-year head coach was crowd surfing in the stands at Charles Schwab Field Omaha a few minutes later aaron combs With the strikeout sealing the title, his legendary status among Tennessee fans was further secured by leading the university to its first national title in 15 years. Although he will care more about the trophy and the experience he and his players enjoyed in this remarkable run, Vitello also earned a $140,000 bonus check for the championship win.

According to his contract, Vitello earns 40% of his $385,000 base salary for national championships. His full compensation is $1.5 million annually, but the incentive structure dictates that his bonuses be based on base salary. Tennessee also won the SEC regular season and tournament titles this season and Vitello can earn bonuses for reaching the College World Series and advancing to the finals, but is only eligible for the highest overall accomplishment.

Obviously, the national championship is supreme.

Vitello has been a revelation for Tennessee baseball since being hired by the former athletic director in June 2017 john curry, former assistant coach missouri, TCU And arkansas The Vols have been transformed into a national power in the always busy and rugged SEC after inheriting one of the worst programs in the league. His success led to Tennessee giving him millions in the form of a Lindsey Nelson Stadium renovation, and three years ago he was rewarded with a contract extension and a raise, increasing his salary from $600,000 to $1.5 million.

A new contract could soon increase the 45-year-old’s salary again.

Tennessee was 29-27 in Vitello’s first season in 2018, and he got the Vols back to the NCAA Tournament in his second season. His third team was off to a 15-2 start when the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Tennessee has made the College World Series in three of the four seasons since then. In the one season the Vols did not go to Omaha, they spent most of the season as the No. 1 team and won the SEC regular-season and conference titles.

In 2021, the Vols reached their first College World Series for the first time since 2005, and Vitello’s team bounced back from a disappointing Super Regional loss to clinch the No. 1 overall seed in 2022 by winning the Regionals. CLEMSON and a super regional southern mississippi To make it to Omaha. Tennessee shared the SEC regular season title this season kentucky And came back after losing in the initial round and won the tournament title by defeating the defending national champion LSU In the finals at Hoover last month. Tennessee won its regional evansville in three games of the Super Regionals to return to Omaha.

The Vols entered their bracket with two wins in Omaha Florida State – The first to make a tremendous comeback in the ninth inning after falling behind by three runs – and against one North Carolina To reach a best-of-three final series against an SEC opponent. Texas A&M,

The Aggies struck first with a win on Saturday, but the Vols responded to tie the series on Sunday and force a Monday game.

Tennessee scored three runs in the seventh inning to increase the lead to 6–1. dylan dreiling Home run and an epic hunter ansley Slide to plate the sixth run. Texas A&M took the lead, but Tennessee’s bullpen closed out the game. experienced Kirby Connell He got two strikeouts in the eighth inning and Combs recorded all three outs via strikeout in the ninth inning, leading to a wild celebration on the field.

Vols become first overall No. 1 seed to win national title miami in 1999 and sealed a 60–13 season with the hardware. Tennessee had not won a national championship since 2009 with a women’s indoor track and field title. The men’s last national title was in indoor track and field in 2002.

Vitello is 294-112 as Tennessee’s head coach.