Tony Vitello’s Unprecedented $140,000 Bonus for Tennessee Baseball’s First National Championship

Tony Vitello, the coach of the Tennessee baseball team, has earned a $140,000 bonus for leading the Vols to their first-ever national championship. According to his contract, he receives 40% of his base pay as a bonus for winning the College World Series. Vitello, who has been coaching for seven years, has a base pay of $350,000, which is part of his $1.5 million annual salary. He earned the bonus after the Vols clinched the program’s historic national title with a 6-5 win against Texas A&M at Charles Schwab Field.

Vitello’s contract stipulates that he is entitled to one bonus per year based on the team’s highest achievement. However, he did not receive bonuses for winning the SEC regular-season title or SEC tournament title. UT has 60 days to pay Vitello the $140,000 bonus.

In June 2021, Vitello agreed to a contract extension and raise that pays him $1.5 million annually before incentives through June 2026. The five-year contract extension is worth $7.5 million. Before this extension, Vitello had received another raise and extension following the 2019 season, which was worth an average of $621,000 per season before incentives. His original five-year contract had an annual average compensation of $493,000.

Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics and can be reached at [michael.wilson@knoxnews.com](mailto:michael.wilson@knoxnews.com) or followed on Twitter @ByMikeWilson if you enjoy his coverage consider a digital subscription for access to all of it