The new millennium has been somewhat of a journey for the University of Tennessee’s baseball program.
Legendary coach Rod Delmonico, who manned the helm from 1990, was relieved of his duties in 2007 after former athletic director Mike Hamilton became displeased with the lack of consistency in regular and postseason play. Delmonico finished 699-369 across the span of 18 seasons, with three trips to the College World Series (1995, 2001, 2005).
The Volunteers’ next choice would be the former Western Carolina Catamount, Todd Raleigh. Raleigh would be named the SoCon coach of the year in 2007, and showed a bit of promise as he took on his second career head coaching position. Raleigh was just okay at Tennessee where he finished sub .500 after a four year span (108-113) with nothing to show.
Next up to the plate for Tennessee was Dave Serrano. Serrano would be coming off of a successful four-year stint with Cal State Fullerton with postseason play becoming a staple in each of those seasons. However, his success did not translate to the SEC. Serrano struggled from day one; and after six season his finished 157-163 overall (.479).
John Currie, the third athletic director after Mike Hamilton, had a new game plan; hire someone with promise over prominence. Tony Vitello had been on this third team as an assistant coach when he was gifted the rock. Vitello’s first head coaching gig would come as a clean up man trying to do whatever he could with a team on the decline.
Vitello’s first 51 games would be about average (27-24).
Then he got suspended for a Friday game against Vanderbilt. During his suspension, Vitello took time to reflect, learn, and create a lemonade stand to raise money for charities (National CASA Association).
After drinking the kool-aid (or rather lemonade), Tennessee’s derailment was back on track. The Vols would make the regionals in the 2019 season. The 2020 season never existed due to COVID-19 (it did but was cancelled). Tennessee made the CWS in 2021, were knocked out of Super Regionals in ’22, and appeared in the CWS again in the 2023 season.
Since that suspension, Tennessee has gone 208-74 (.738).
Vitello’s success has led to improvements all across the board for UT baseball. Aside from attendance records, a new plan to upgrade the facilities at Lindsey Nelson Stadium has been put into place.
While Vitello is undoubtedly one of the hottest coaches in college baseball, Tennessee baseball has been handed lemons and appears to be doing everything they can to keep the trend upward and their lemonade stand afloat.
Brandon Shown 