KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – On Monday the University of Tennessee introduced Josh Elander as the next Head Coach of the University of Tennessee Baseball team.
Elander, has spent seven years on Rocky Top under the leadership of Tony Vitello before the former head Vol left for the major leagues in a deal to become the manager of the San Francisco Giants.
Vitello left a position that paid him more than $3 million a year, which came in the form of a new contract he signed before the 2025 season.
While Vitello was one of college baseball’s highest earners, his new contract was a far cry from his original he signed when he was named head coach back in 2017.
The first Vitello contract publicly available online, shows the coach was paid a base salary in the six digit range with an increase every year.
- July 1, 2019 -June 30, 2020 – $280,000
- July 1, 2020-June 30, 2021 – $300,000
- July 1, 2021-June 30, 2022 – $325,000
- July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023 – $350,000
- July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024 – $350,000
In addition to Vitello’s base salary, the coach was due an additional $300,000 plus 75% of any revenue received from a bat/equipment manufacturer if the contract is greater than $100,000.
With the combination of base and supplemental pay in Vitello’s highest earning year in his first contract, he would have only brought in just more than $650,000.
Elander’s contract calls for a base compensation of $500,000 and a supplemental compensation of $500,000, resulting in Elander’s pay sitting at $1 million a year.
Unlike Vitello, Elander does not have an increasing base salary over the life of the contract.
Like his successor, the National Champion winning head coach had achievement bonusses built into his contract, however Vitello’s first contract was based off of percentages of his pay.
- Team appearance in the SEC Tournament – 4% of Base Pay
- Team appearance in the NCAA Regionals – 8% of Base Pay
- Host NCAA Regionals as a Top 16 national seed – 12% of Base Pay
- Winning the SEC regular season championship (as determined by SEC) or SEC Tournament championship – 16% of Base Pay
- Appearance in the NCAA Super Regionals – 20% of Base Pay
- Host Super Regionals as a Top 8 national seed – 24% of Base Pay
- Appearance in the NCAA College World Series – 28% of Base Pay
- NCAA College World Series Champion – 32% of Base Pay
- SEC Coach of the Year – $5,000
- National Coach of the Year (either American Baseball Coaches Association or Baseball America) – $10,000
Vitello’s final contract at UT had defined bonuses like Elander’s below.
- SEC Tournament Appearance – $20,000
- NCAA Regional Appearance – $40,000
- Hosting NCAA Regionals – $60,000
- SEC Season/Tournament Championship – $80,000
- Super Regional Appearance – $100,000
- Hosting Super Regionals -$120,000
- College World Series Appearance – $140,000
- College World Series Championship Appearance – $160,000
- College World Series National Championship – $200,000
- SEC Coach of the Year – $5,000
- National Coach of the Year – $10,000
Both contracts allow and allowed for the coach to be given a car by the university similar to other coaches, or an $850 monthly allowance for the coach to purchase, or lease his own vehicle.
