Tony Vitello is getting national recognition for Tennessee baseball’s impressive 2021 season.

On Friday, Vitello was named national Coach of the Year by both the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and the publication Perfect Game.

“It is very fitting that Tony Vitello won the inaugural NCBWA Coach of the Year Award named in honor of Hall of Fame member Mike Martin,” said NCBWA executive director Bo Carter. “Coach Vitello put together possibly the best season in Tennessee baseball history and is very deserving of this top honor. He follows a long list of illustrious NCBWA Coaches of the Year.”

Vitello is the second head coach in program history to earn National Coach of the Year honors, joining legendary Vols’ skipper Rod Delmonico, who was named National Coach of the Year by Baseball America in 1995. He is the first coach in program history to earn coach of the year honors from two separate organizations.

Under Vitello, Tennessee won its first SEC Eastern division title since 1997 after posting a 20-10 record in conference play. The Vols also made their first appearance in the SEC Tournament Championship Game since 1995. On Sunday, Tennessee will make its first College World Series appearance since 2005. UT also made it to Omaha in 1995 and 2001.

Coming off a Super Regional win, Tennessee enters the CWS with its first 50-victory mark (50-16 overall record) since 1995.