While winning ballgames and playing in the postseason is a big ingredient in the recipe for likeability, head coach Tony Vitello’s personality, energy, and love for Tennessee has made him a fan favorite among Vol fans.
Even those who don’t routinely follow Tennessee baseball still know all about Vitello, whether it be from dressing up as Josh Heupel during a Halloween football game or sporting a Zakai Zeigler jersey to basketball games or something else from his seven years on Rocky Top.
Going back to the original point, though, Vitello has been winning games in Lindsey Nelson Stadium… Plenty of them. While the Vols went 29-27 during his first year at Tennessee in 2018, U.T. baseball has never been fewer than 19 games over .500 since, excluding the 15-2 start that Tennessee got out to during the 2020 season before it was completely canceled due to COVID.
Vitello has also taken Tennessee to four NCAA Regionals, three NCAA Super Regionals, and two College World Series in six seasons (five full seasons).
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As Vitello and his coaching staff would quickly say, it all starts on the practice field. Habits are formed, relationships are strengthed, and teammates are challenged by one another in the cold stretch of winter months that lead into the spring season.
The Tennessee baseball team gave a glimpse into what a U.T. practice looks like, particularly from the lens of Vitello. Tennessee released a three-minute Mic’d Up video of Vitello at practice to social media on Wednesday.
From messing with his players about right-field podcasts to getting a quick stinger while hitting the ball during fielding drills, here’s a look at Tennessee baseball head coach Tony Vitello Mic’d Up at the Vols practice:
Always entertaining, never dull.
Coach V mic'd up ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/BOgFJjLAql
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) February 28, 2024
