Tony Vitello may become the next coach of The San Francisco Giants. (Photo: X)
The San Francisco Giants are close to naming University of Tennessee coach Tony Vitello as their next manager, according to a report by The Athletic.
Industry sources confirmed that the 47-year-old, who has built Tennessee into one of college baseball’s top programmes, is the leading candidate for the job. The Giants have not yet issued an official statement.
If finalised, Vitello’s hiring would represent a remarkable step up, as he has no professional coaching experience. Moves from college dugouts directly to major league managerial posts are extremely rare.
Pat Murphy, now manager of the Milwaukee Brewers, previously led college teams at Notre Dame and Arizona State but spent nearly a decade in professional baseball before taking over in Milwaukee.
Vitello has gained a reputation for transforming Tennessee from an SEC underperformer into a national powerhouse, guiding the Volunteers to the College World Series in three of the past five seasons.
The move underscores Buster Posey’s unorthodox approach in his role as a top Giants executive. Posey, who took on an ownership and leadership role with the franchise last year, has reportedly sought a manager with a strong personality capable of energising the clubhouse.
Vitello’s “dynamism and charisma” have been widely credited for shaping Tennessee’s confident and flamboyant playing style.
Vitello is currently the second-highest-paid coach in Division I baseball, earning more than $3 million annually. His prospective move to San Francisco would likely place him among the better-compensated MLB managers, given the high cost of living and the stability he would be leaving behind in Knoxville.
The Giants’ organisation already has strong links with Tennessee’s programme. Their top draft pick this past July, Gavin Kilen, starred for the Volunteers, while former Tennessee shortstop Maui Ahuna is part of the Giants’ minor league system. The team also acquired two former Vols — outfielder Drew Gilbert and right-hander Blade Tidwell — in a July trade with the New York Mets.
Nick Hundley, currently a special assistant to Texas Rangers general manager Chris Young, had been viewed as an early front-runner for the position but was unavailable during the final stages of the search.
The Giants also spoke with former Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde, Los Angeles Angels special assistant Kurt Suzuki, and Kansas City Royals bench coach Vance Wilson.
If appointed, Vitello’s transition from college baseball to the major leagues would mark one of the boldest managerial experiments in recent MLB history.