JUST IN: Tony Vitello adds Ethan Payne to Tennessee baseball staff as student assistant

Ethan Payne has joined the Tennessee baseball coaching staff as a student assistant following his playing career.

Payne had 55 at-bats in 67 games, including a notable late-game performance in UT’s 14-inning win at Clemson in the Clemson Regional in June 2023. He hit .273 with a homer in his career from 2020 to 2024.

The Memphis native stepped in during extra innings in Tennessee’s 6-5 win with two sacrifice bunts and a stretch at first base that kept the game going. The Vols turned an inning-ending double play in the 10th, which prevented Clemson from scoring the winning run.

Payne hit the 107th homer of Tennessee’s 2022 season, which tied the program record at the time. That Vols team set a record with 158 homers, which the 2024 Vols shattered with 184.

Ethan Payne joins Tennessee baseball staff as a student assistant

Payne joins Parker Serrano as a student assistant coach. Former Vols pitcher Kirby Connell also has joined the staff as a quality control analyst.

Vitello brought back Ross Kivett as the third full-time assistant coach after three seasons at Houston. Kivett was the volunteer assistant coach at Tennessee from 2017 to 2021.

Vitello hired former Cincinnati pitching coach Josh Reynolds for a hybrid role with pitching performance duties and operations responsibilities. Former Vols shortstop and student assistant coach Ricky Martinez rejoined the staff as a director of player personnel.

Vitello’s three full-time assistants are Frank Anderson, Josh Elander and Kivett. Anderson and Elander have been the pitching coach and hitting coach, respectively, through all seven of Vitello’s seasons at Tennessee.