Tony Vitello contract: Tennessee baseball HC’s salary structure and more details explored

The Tennessee Volunteers have one of the best college baseball coaches in the country in Tony Vitello. He has done well since taking over the Tennessee Volunteers program in 2018, as he currently has a 292-111 record (.725 winning percentage). However, people are wondering how his contract looks for the results of the team.

According to WBIR, Tony Vitello is earning a minimum of $1,612,000 this season and an extra $28,000 if the Vols can defeat the Texas A&M Aggies in the 2024 College World Series. The contract has a few different kickers, but it is simple to understand once it is broken down.

Vitello's contract has a $350,000 base pay that he receives each season of his current contract. When the team officially punched their ticket to the College World Series, he was guaranteed a 32% bonus, adding $112,000 to his salary. If the team wins the College World Series, that 32% will jump to 40%.

However, that is not the only incentive in his contract. Vitello receives a 75% cut of any bat and equipment endorsement the program receives over $100,000 He also receives $1.15 million in endorsements already, so that can be another addition to his take-home pay. There is another $25,000 on the table depending on the collective grades of the program in the classroom. His contract extension for this deal began in 2021 and expires at the end of the 2026 college baseball season.

Does this make Tony Vitello the highest-paid baseball coach in the SEC?

While the minimum of $1.612 million that Tony Vitello would receive is a massive salary, it does not compare to the top earner in the Southeastern Conference. That award goes to Vanderbilt Commodores coach Tim Corbin.

According to a 2023 report for The Tennesseean, Corbin earned a minimum of $2.4 million during the 2022-23 college baseball season. Since Vanderbilt University is a private institution, we will have to wait until their tax records are released to see the exact monetary value Corbin would secure for the season.

No other coach in the SEC is making $2 million, so it will be interesting to see if Tony Vitello gets another raise after the performance of the Vols this season.