Tennessee Baseball Coach Tony Vitello Suspended for ‘Violation’

Assistant Josh Elander will serve as the Volunteers acting head coach.

Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello has been suspended for what the program simply described as a “violation”, the university’s athletic department announced on Friday.

Vitello, who is in his sixth season at Tennessee, will miss the Volunteers’ three-game series against Dayton starting Friday. Assistant Josh Elander will serve as the Volunteers acting head coach.

In the statement, the department shared that the university and Vitello are “working collaboratively with the NCAA to address a violation in the program” and that Vitello “acknowledged his mistake and accepted his full responsibility.”

“We appreciate his [Vitello’s] cooperation in the process and his dedication to do right by the student-athletes in the Tennessee baseball program,” the statement read. “NCAA bylaws prohibit additional comment or details. The University will continue to emphasize—to all staff—the imperative of leading with honesty and integrity.”

While it is not certain why Vitello is serving a three-game suspension, the news comes as Kansas transfer Maui Ahuna continues to wait for the NCAA’s clearance to play for the Volunteers.

Vitello has Tennessee (3–2) ranked as one of the top six teams in the nation. He has posted a 194–79 record overall and led the Vols to an appearance in the 2021 College World Series in Omaha.