Former Tennessee relief pitcher Redmond Walsh is joining Tony Vitello’s staff as a volunteer quality control staffer, KnoxNews’ Mike Wilson first reported and a UT spokesperson confirmed to Rocky Top Insider Thursday afternoon.
Walsh is tied with Todd Helton as the Vols’ all time save leader, tallying 23 saves in his five years at Tennessee.
The Louisville, Tennessee native is one of the top relievers in Volunteer history, posting a career 1.94 ERA while never having worse than a 2.53 ERA in his five seasons in Tennessee’s bullpen.
In his new role, Walsh will help with Tennessee pitchers and do off the field work including analytic breakdowns.
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Loyalty has been a key word for Tony Vitello since arriving in Knoxville and the university’s loyalty to him played a role in the coach deciding to stay and build the Volunteer program.
Vitello has certainly showed an abundance of loyalty to his assistant coaches and former players while in Knoxville. The sixth-year head coach hasn’t fired any assistants since arriving in Knoxville.
Only two assistant coaches have left Tennessee’s program since Vitello arrived. Volunteer assistant Ross Kivett left for a paid assistant job at Houston while strength coach Quentin Eberhardt left Knoxville to become the Chicago Cubs strength coach, only to return to Tennessee months later.
Former Tennessee pitcher Richard Jackson became a graduate assistant and then volunteer assistant under Vitello, former shortstop Ricky Martinez is now a graduate assistant and Luke Bonfield — who played for Vitello at Arkansas — is the Vols’ director of player development.
Walsh is the latest Vitello player to join his coaching staff.
