Tony Vitello, Arkansas Razorbacks

Tony Vitello is considered to be one of the top recruiters in the country. He is in his fourth year as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team. As Arkansas’ recruiting coordinator, Vitello has done an excellent job signing some of the nation’s top talent. His most recent class, the class of 2016, was ranked No. 6 nationally by Perfect Game and he previously signed the nation’s top class for the Razorbacks in 2014.

In 2016, Vitello helped Arkansas’ offense continue to be one of the best in the SEC and the nation. As a team, the Razorbacks had a combined batting average of .275, which was the second-highest average in the last six seasons. Redshirt sophomores Carson Shaddy and Luke Bonfield each batted over .300 and combined for 16 home runs and 74 RBIs, to lead a team that finished fourth in the SEC in team home runs (49). He was instrumental in Arkansas’ run to the College World Series in 2015 as the Razorback rebounded from a 15-15 record on April 4 to win 18 of their final 25 regular season games. Primarily working with hitters and serving as the team’s third base coach, the Razorbacks slugged their way into the postseason, finishing fifth in the SEC in hitting (.288) and fourth in home runs (53).

A three-year letterwinner at Missouri, Vitello earned Academic All-Big 12 Conference honors as a senior and was named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll twice. Following his playing career and the completion of his management degree at MU, Vitello joined the Missouri coaching staff as a volunteer assistant in 2003. He also completed his course work for his master’s degree in business. The following season he was elevated to full-time assistant coach. During his time as a Tiger assistant coach, Vitello recruited and developed 19 players who were drafted by major league teams, including major leaguers Ian Kinsler, Max Scherzer, Aaron Crow, Kyle Gibson, Nick Tepesch, Doug Mathis and Justin James.

As recruiting coordinator, Vitello was instrumental in bringing some of the nation’s top prospects to Missouri. In his eight seasons at Missouri, the Tigers made the postseason seven times. Vitello served as the pitching coach at Missouri, while also working with the team’s hitters and serving as the first base coach. Vitello’s 2008 recruiting class at Missouri was ranked No. 11 nationally by Baseball America and he had top 25 recruiting classes in three of his final four years at Missouri.