In 2017, the Tennessee Vols hired Tony Vitello as the program’s new head baseball coach. Vitello took over for Dave Serrano, who resigned after six seasons leading Tennessee’s baseball program.

Serrano, a California native, was an assistant at UT in the mid-90s. He returned to Rocky Top in 2012 after four seasons as the head coach at Cal State Fullerton.

Unfortunately for Serrano and the Vols, the success he found on the west coast didn’t follow him to East Tennessee. UT struggled during his tenure, failing to reach the NCAA tournament.

It would be easy for Serrano to be bitter while watching Tennessee’s incredible 2022 squad — Vitello is doing what he couldn’t. But that’s not how Serrano operates.

The former Vols head coach couldn’t be happier for Tennessee and he showed that via a tweet after the Vols beat the Florida Gators to win the SEC Tournament this past weekend.

Serrano’s tweet proves what most Vols fans already know — Tennessee is a special place that’s loved even by those who don’t find success at UT.

There’s a reason that players and coaches come from all over the country to UT and often end up sticking around in Knoxville even after they’re no longer employed by the university or on a scholarship. It’s a unique place that is unlike any other college in the nation.