The Tennessee Volunteers baseball team represents the University of Tennessee in NCAA Division I college baseball. Along with most other Tennessee athletic teams, the baseball team participates in the Southeastern Conference. The Volunteers play all on-campus home games at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The Volunteers are currently coached by Josh Elander, who was an assistant under former head coach and three-time National Coach of the Year and one-time Southeastern Conference Baseball Coach of the Year, Tony Vitello. During Vitello's tenure, Tennessee has quickly become one of the premier programs in all of college baseball. From 2021 to 2024, Tennessee amassed the most overall wins, the most NCAA tournament wins, the most home runs, as well as the highest winning percentage in the country. The Vols won their first College World Series in 2024, becoming just the second team to win the title as the #1 overall seed and the first to do it since 1999. They also became the SEC's first team with 60 wins and the fourth to win the regular season title, the SEC tournament title, and the national championship in the same season.
Stadium Lindsey Nelson Stadium was constructed between the 1992 and 1993 seasons, on the site of the stadium, which was called Lower Hudson Field. In the past, the program had played at various locations including Lower Hudson Field and Shields–Watkins Field.
Lindsey Nelson was a Hall of Fame broadcaster, Tennessee native and, university alumnus best known for his work with the University of Tennessee, University of Notre Dame, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, the National Football League and the annual Cotton Bowl Classic.
The playing field was named for Maryville, Tennessee native Robert M. Lindsay in 2007 after a $2 million athletic department contribution by Mr. Lindsay. Mr. Lindsay's father Rus Lindsay played baseball at the University of Tennessee from 1913 to 1916.Knoxville News-Sentinel 1/29/2007
Lindsey Nelson Stadium is currently in the midst of a $98 million, multi-year renovation project with the most recent additions bringing the current official capacity to 5,548. Once the renovations are complete, a new mezzanine section of premium seating and other additions will bring the capacity up to approximately 7,750 people.
The record attendance at Lindsey Nelson stadium is 6,396, during an NCAA regional championship game against Northern Kentucky on May 31, 2024.
Head coaches After a six-year tenure, coach Dave Serrano resigned following a 101-110 overall record and no post-season trips. On June 7, 2017, Tony Vitello accepted the position as head coach, and in his first year compiled a 29-27 record, the most wins by a first-year head coach in program history. In Vitello's second season at Tennessee, he led the Vols to 40 wins and their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2005. In 2024, Vitello led the Vols to their first national championship in program history.
Coach W-L-T Pct Tenure D. Aydelott 6–9–1 .406 1897 (1 year) A.J. Greer No Record 1898 (1 year) W.R. Harrison No Record 1899 (1 year) T.R. Cornick 6–5 .545 1900 (1 year) William H. Newman 8–4 .667 1902 (1 year) Frank Moffett 90–47–1 .656 1903–05; 07–10; 18 (8 years) Frank Callaway 5–7–1 .423 1919 (1 year) James DePree 7–8 .467 1906 (1 year) Zora Clevenger 51–44–3 .553 1911–16 (6 years) John R. Bender 16–11 .593 1917; 1920 (2 years) M. B. Banks 38–42–3 .476 1921–26 (6 years) William S. Harkness 13–27 .325 1927–31 (5 years) John Mauer 24–23 .511 1939–42 (4 years) Ike Peel 13–6 .684 1947 (1 year) S. W. Anderson 49–51–1 .490 1948–52 (5 years) Bernard O’Neil 54–60 .474 1953–57 (5 years) George Cafego 49–57–2 .463 1958–62 (5 years) Bill Wright 408–308–2 .570 1963–81 (19 years) John Whited 145–109 .571 1982–87 (6 years) Ronnie Osborne 7–18 .280 1987 (1 year) Mark Connor 44–65 .404 1988–89 (2 years) Rod Delmonico 699–396 .638 1990–2007 (18 years) Todd Raleigh 108–113 .489 2008–2011 (4 years) Dave Serrano 101–110 .479 2012–2017 (6 years) Tony Vitello 341–131 2018–2025 (8 years)Josh Elander38–222026–present (1 year)
All-time season results
*Through August 2, 2024 *Note: there was no team in 1901; from 1932–1938 and from 1943–1946 Information Source: 2010 Tennessee Volunteers Baseball Media Guide - History section
Year-by-Year ResultsYearHead coachCollegiate recordConference recordWinning percentageConference finish 1897 D. Aydelott 6-9-1 .406 1898 A. J. Greer N/A N/A 1899 W. R. Harrison N/A N/A 1900 T. R. Cornick 6-5 .545 1902 William H. Newman 8-4 .667 1903 Frank Moffett 8-10 .444 1904 Frank Moffett 9-5 .643 1905 Frank Moffett 3-5 .375 1906 James DePree 7-8 .467 1907 Frank Moffett 17-10 .630 1908 Frank Moffett 16-3 .842 1909 Frank Moffett 18-5-1 .771 1910 Frank Moffett 11-7 .611 1911 Zora Clevenger 10-8 .556 1912 Zora Clevenger 7-11-1 .395 1913 Zora Clevenger 5-8-1 .393 1914 Zora Clevenger 6-6-1 .500 1915 Zora Clevenger 10-6 .625 1916 Zora Clevenger 13-5 .722 1917 John R. Bender 7-6 .538 1918 Frank Moffett 8-2 .800 1919 Frank Moffett 5-7-1 .423 1920 John R. Bender 9-5 .643 1921 M. B. Banks 10-7 .588 1922 M. B. Banks 5-10-2 .353 1923 M. B. Banks 5-5-1 .500 1924 M. B. Banks 9-9 .500 1925 M. B. Banks 4-5 .444 1926 M. B. Banks 5-6 .455 1927 William S. Harkness 3-9 .250 1928 William S. Harkness 3-9 .250 1929 William S. Harkness 3-5 .375 1930 William S. Harkness 4-4 .500 1931 William S. Harkness 6-3 .667 1939 John Mauer 7-2 1-1 .778 8th SEC 1940 John Mauer 4-9 2-4 .308 10th SEC 1941 John Mauer 7-6 3-3 .538 6th SEC 1942 John Mauer 6-6 1-2 .500 10th SEC 1947 Ike Peel 13-6 5-3 .684 3rd SEC 1948 S. W. Anderson 4-18-1 3-16-1 .196 12th SEC 1949 S. W. Anderson 6-12 5-9 .333 10th SEC 1950 S. W. Anderson 8-9 7-9 .471 7th SEC 1951 S. W. Anderson 20-3 16-1 .870 SEC Champions 1952 S. W. Anderson 11-9 11-7 .550 4th SEC 1953 Bernard O'Neil 14-8 6-7 .636 8th SEC 1954 Bernard O'Neil 8-17 4-10 .320 T-11th SEC 1955 Bernard O'Neil 13-8 8-6 .619 6th SEC 1956 Bernard O'Neil 10-13 7-8 .435 6th SEC 1957 Bernard O'Neil 9-14 4-12 .391 10th SEC 1958 George Cafego 2-13-1 1-10 .156 12th SEC 1959 George Cafego 9-9 4-8 .500 6th SEC East 1960 George Cafego 9-13-1 5-12 .413 7th SEC East 1961 George Cafego 15-10 6-8 .600 6th SEC East 1962 George Cafego 14-12 9-7 .538 4th SEC East 1963 Bill Wright 11-15 8-9 .423 5th SEC East 1964 Bill Wright 17-14 8-5 .583 3rd SEC East 1965 Bill Wright 14-10 8-5 .583 4th SEC East 1966 Bill Wright 22-9 11-2 .710 1st SEC East 1967 Bill Wright 14-16 8-9 .467 4th SEC East 1968 Bill Wright 20-12 8-5 .625 2nd SEC East 1969 Bill Wright 19-15 9-5 .559 2nd SEC East 1970 Bill Wright 24-10 12-3 .706 1st SEC East 1971 Bill Wright 15-15-1 7-7 .500 4th SEC East 1972 Bill Wright 19-14 7-6 .576 2nd SEC East 1973 Bill Wright 20-15 9-7 .571 2nd SEC East 1974 Bill Wright 29-15 10-7 .659 3rd SEC East 1975 Bill Wright 32-16 10-7 .667 2nd SEC East 1976 Bill Wright 33-17 15-9 .660 2nd SEC East 1977 Bill Wright 24-24-1 11-12 .500 3rd SEC East 1978 Bill Wright 25-21 11-12 .543 3rd SEC East 1979 Bill Wright 25-22 10-14 .532 4th SEC East 1980 Bill Wright 23-21 6-14 .523 5th SEC East 1981 Bill Wright 22-27 10-13 .449 3rd SEC East 1982 John Whited 29-17 13-9 .630 2nd SEC East 1983 John Whited 26-16 12-7 .619 2nd SEC East 1984 John Whited 27-21 11-12 .563 2nd SEC East 1985 John Whited 26-23 10-13 .531 5th SEC East 1986 John Whited 27-23 10-17 .540 8th SEC 1987 John Whited 10-9 5-18 .526 10th SEC 1988 Mark Connor 21-29 9-18 .420 9th SEC 1989 Mark Connor 23-36 4-23 .390 10th SEC 1990 Rod Delmonico 28-31 9-18 .475 9th SEC 1991 Rod Delmonico 41-19 13-13 .683 7th SEC 1992 Rod Delmonico 35-20 10-14 .636 5th SEC East 1993 Rod Delmonico 45-20 20-10 .692 1st SEC EastSEC Tournament Champions 1994 Rod Delmonico 52-14 24-5 .788 SEC ChampionsSEC Tournament Champions 1995 Rod Delmonico 54-16 22-8 .771 SEC ChampionsSEC Tournament Champions 1996 Rod Delmonico 43-20 18-12 .683 2nd SEC East 1997 Rod Delmonico 42-19 17-13 .688 T-1st SEC East 1998 Rod Delmonico 36-20 11-17 .643 4th SEC East 1999 Rod Delmonico 28-28 10-20 .500 4th SEC East 2000 Rod Delmonico 40-23 10-18 .635 5th SEC East 2001 Rod Delmonico 48-20 18-12 .705 2nd SEC East 2002 Rod Delmonico 27-28 12-18 .490 4th SEC East 2003 Rod Delmonico 31-24 13-17 .564 4th SEC East 2004 Rod Delmonico 38-24 14-16 .613 5th SEC East 2005 Rod Delmonico 46-21 18-11 .687 2nd SEC East 2006 Rod Delmonico 31-24 11-18 .564 5th SEC East 2007 Rod Delmonico 34-25 13-15 .576 4th SEC East 2008 Todd Raleigh 27-29 12-18 .482 6th SEC East 2009 Todd Raleigh 26-29 11-19 .473 6th SEC East 2010 Todd Raleigh 30-26 12-18 .536 5th SEC East 2011 Todd Raleigh 25-29 7-23 .462 6th SEC East 2012 Dave Serrano 24-31 8-22 .436 6th SEC East 2013 Dave Serrano 22-30 8-20 .423 6th SEC East 2014 Dave Serrano 31-23 12-18 .574 5th SEC East 2015 Dave Serrano 24-26 11-18 .499 6th SEC East 2016 Dave Serrano 29–27 9-21 .536 T-6th SEC East 2017 Dave Serrano 27–25 7-21 .519 7th SEC East 2018 Tony Vitello 29-27 12-18 .518 T-6th SEC East 2019 Tony Vitello 40-21 14-16 .656 3rd SEC East 2020 Tony Vitello 15–2* 0-0* .882 N/A 2021 Tony Vitello 50-18 20-10 .735 1st SEC East 2022 Tony Vitello 58-9 25-5 .865 SEC ChampionsSEC Tournament Champions 2023 Tony Vitello 44-22 16-14 .667 T-4th SEC East 2024 Tony Vitello 60-13 22-8 .821 SEC ChampionsSEC Tournament ChampionsNational champions
NCAA tournament record Year-by-Year ResultsYearRecordPct.Notes 1951 4-2 .667 College World Series (Runner-up) 1993 1-2 .333 Mideast Regional 1994 3-2 .600 Mideast Regional 1995 6-2 .750 College World Series (4th place) 1996 3-2 .600 Atlantic Regional 1997 1-2 .333 Midwest Regional 2001 7-3 .700 College World Series (3rd place) 2004 1-2 .333 Kinston Regional 2005 5-2 .714 College World Series (8th place) 2019 2-2 .500 Chapel Hill Regional 2021 5-2 .714 College World Series (7th place) 2022 4-2 .667 Knoxville Super Regional 20236-3.667College World Series (5th place)2024 9-2 .818College World Series (Champion)20253-3.500Fayetteville Super Regional20260-2.000Chapel Hill Regional
Player awards
National awards College World Series Most Outstanding Player Sidney Hatfield (1951) Dylan Dreiling (2024) Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Freshman of the Year Award R. A. Dickey (1994) Chase Burns (2022) Baseball America Freshman of the Year Award R. A. Dickey (1994) Dick Howser Trophy Todd Helton (1995) Baseball America College Player of the Year Award Todd Helton (1995) Collegiate Baseball Newspaper College Player of the Year Award Todd Helton (1995) Roger Clemens Award Luke Hochevar (2005) NCBWA Freshman National Pitcher of the Year Chase Burns (2022) Collegiate Baseball Co-Freshman National Player of the Year Chase Burns (2022)
SEC Awards Pitcher of the Year Luke Hochevar (2005) Chase Dollander (2022) Liam Doyle (2025) Player of the Year Award Todd Helton (1995) Jeff Pickler (1998) Chris Burke (2001) Freshman of the Year J. P. Arencibia (2005) Drew Beam (2022)
1st Team All-Americans PlayerPositionYear(s)Selectors B.B. Hopkins Third Base 1953† ABCA Sam Ewing Outfielder 1970† ABCA, SN Bobby Tucker Outfielder 1973† ABCA Condredge Holloway Shortstop 1975 SN Rick Honeycutt First Base 1976† ABCA Alan Cockrell Outfielder 1984 SN Doug Hecker First Base 1992 BA R. A. Dickey Pitcher 1994†, 1996 BA, CB Todd Helton Pitcher/Utility 1994, 1995 NCBWA, ABCA, BA Jeff Pickler Second Base 1998† ABCA, BA, CB Chris Burke Second Base, Shortstop 2000, 2001† Baseball Weekly, BA, NCBWA, CB Luke Hochevar Pitcher 2005† ABCA, BA, CB, NCBWA, Baseball Weekly J. P. Arencibia Catcher 2006 College Baseball Foundation Chase Burns Pitcher 2022 NCBWA Chase Dollander Pitcher 2022† ABCA, BA, D1Baseball, Perfect Game, NCBWA Drew Gilbert Outfielder 2022 NCBWA Trey Lipscomb Third Base 2022 NCBWA Blake Burke First Base 2024 ABCA, BA, D1Baseball, NCBWA, Perfect Game Christian Moore Second Base 2024 BA, D1Baseball, Perfect Game Source: ABCA: American Baseball Coaches Association BA: Baseball America CB: Collegiate Baseball NCBWA: National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association † Denotes consensus All-American