Tony Vitello’s father, Greg, was a St. Louis high school baseball and soccer coach for nearly five decades.
Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello met with local media on Thursday, May 15, 2025, following the Vols’ 10-7 series-opening win over Arkansas in Fayetteville.
He discussed Marcus Phillips’s start, relief outings from AJ Russell and Nate Snead, the team’s offensive outburst, and more.
Tony joined Tennessee on June 7, 2017, as a head coach. In his first season, he led the Volunteers to a five-win improvement in conference play.
Tennessee had its first 40-win season and NCAA Tournament appearance the following season.
During his fifth season in the Tennessee baseball program, Tony orchestrated one of the best seasons in college baseball history. He led the Volunteers to their first-ever No. 1 national seed and a program-record 57 victories.
He also led the Volunteers to a National Championship, winning 3 games over Texas A&M.
Tony Vitello Shared A Special Moment With His Parents After Leading The Vols To The Baseball National Title
Born on October 9, 1978, in St. Louis, Missouri, Tony Vitello’s parents, Greg and Kathy Vitello, have supported him in achieving his athletic dreams.
His father, Greg, played soccer and baseball at St. Benedict’s College.
In 1969, he arrived at De Smet and first handled the school’s freshman football department.
He eventually moved to track and field as an assistant before becoming the soccer and track and field coach.
As the soccer coach, he helped De Smet reach 14 state finals and win four titles. In the latter part of his career, Vitello guided the baseball team to a state championship in 2000.
Those achievements helped him be inducted into the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame. A teacher at heart, he always wanted to mentor the youth, especially those at De Smet.
He also teaches his players to stay true to themselves and keep a philosophy they must follow.
Tony has also played baseball and soccer under his father’s watch on the 1997 De Smet High School soccer squad.
He idolizes his father so much that he also ventured into coaching.
On the other hand, Tony’s mother, Kathy, praised him ahead of his 2024 Omaha quest. She said,
“I’m very proud. He’s very thoughtful. And you know, he’s very generous.”
Kathy Vitello
Kathy has avoided social media, so little information about her life is known.
In 2024, Tony shared a special moment with his parent after he led the Vols to their first baseball national title in school history.
Tony Vitello with his parents after winning the program it’s first National title!! pic.twitter.com/csZseVkFkT
— Paige Dauer (@PaigeDauerFDP) June 25, 2024
He embraced his mom on the field following the 6-5 win over Texas A&M. His father also came over to share in the moment.
In June 2024, Greg and Kathy Vitello traveled to Knoxville to watch Tony’s team win the Super Regional.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Tony’s father, Greg, and sister, Kara Vitello, were caught in a tragic accident while traveling westbound on Interstate 70. They were trapped underneath one of the semi-trucks for nearly two hours.
- He attended Spring Hill College, a Division II school in Mobile, Alabama, for a year before transferring to the University of Missouri.
- Tony was a three-year letterwinner for the Missouri Tigers baseball team (2000-02) under head coach Tim Jamieson. As a senior, he earned Academic All-Big 12 Conference honors.
