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Tony Vitello delivers immense praise for Southern Miss coach Scott Berry

Grant Grubbs Profile Pictureby:Grant Grubbs•06/13/23•

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Photo by Bobby McDuffie | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Tennessee won the war on Monday night to advance to Men’s College World Series. However, after the win, Volunteers head coach Tony Vitello had nothing but praise for the opposing general.

“[Scott Berry] this year and other years, is one that everybody needs to look to,” Vitello said during the postgame press conference. “The coach part is real good but the person part is way better.”

Southern Miss‘ 5-0 loss to Tennessee was Golden Eagles head coach Scott Berry’s final game leading the program. Berry was the head coach at Southern Miss for 14 years, finishing with a 482-256-1 record, making him the winningest coach in program history.

With Berry at the helm, Southern Miss has won five Conference USA regular season titles, captured four league tournament crowns, and appeared in the NCAA Tournament eight times. For his efforts, the Golden Eagles head coach has brought home the conference’s Coach of the Year Award four times.

Unfortunately for Golden Eagles fans, the baseball mastermind couldn’t carry Southern Miss to a victory on Sunday night. Instead of gloating after win, the Volunteers gave Berry a round of applause as he walked off the field for the final time.

Vitello discussed the rare moment after the contest.

“It’s hard. I mean you have to celebrate and then you catch yourself, and then you want to celebrate more, and then you catch yourself,” Vitello said. “Any other team would have done it, and the fans and the players, of course, appreciate him too.”

Vitello isn’t lying. Fans sat in the stands for four hours due to weather delays, waiting for Game 3 of the Hattiesburg Super Regional to begin. Just last week, Southern Miss pitcher Billy Oldham discussed what Berry means to the team.

“We’re doing it for coach,” Oldham said. “Coach Berry’s such a great man. He’s a great coach and we’re doing it for him. It’s his last ride and we want to make it the best we can.”

While the Golden Eagles couldn’t win the series for their coach, Berry was still proud of his players. After the loss, the 60-year-old head coach delivered a memorable farewell speech.

“Those numbers will fade, but the person you are and the teammates you are, the coach you are, how you care for people and try to build people and try to mold people that are around you — that’s what they’ll remember the most,” Berry said.

Vitello hopes he can learn from the special moment.

“That’s the definition of a champion,” Vitello said.