Tony Vitello is a candidate for the San Francisco Giants manager position, but the Tennessee baseball coach does not have a deal in place with the Giants.
“Nothing is done,” the Vols coach told Knox News on Oct. 18.
The Vols held a fall scrimmage on Oct. 18 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Vitello addressed his team in right field following the scrimmage and openly discussed reports that he is set to be the Giants’ next manager.
As Vitello addressed his players, the Athletic, citing sources, reported that Vitello and the Giants are closing in on a deal.
Vitello said he does not have an offer from the Giants at this time.
If Vitello is hired by the Giants, it would be an an unprecedented move for an MLB franchise. He would be the first sitting college baseball coach to jump directly into an MLB manager job without prior professional experience.
Vitello led the Vols to their first national title, winning the 2024 College World Series in one of UT’s three trips to Omaha in his historic tenure. He also coached Tennessee to two SEC regular-season titles and two SEC Tournament titles, sweeping the crowns in both 2022 and 2024.
He would be replacing Bob Melvin as the Giants’ manager. Melvin was fired on Sept. 29 after two seasons. He went 161-163 with an 81-81 mark in the 2024 season.
Vitello is 341–131 in eight seasons at Tennessee.
He was hired in June 2017 to take over a dormant Tennessee program. The former Arkansas hitting coach vaulted the Vols into relevance and on the path to excellence. He got UT back to the NCAA Tournament in 2019 for the first time since 2005.
He led them to Omaha two years later in 2021, their first trip since 2005.
The Vols had arguably the best team in college baseball in 2022, winning 57 games and producing a bevy of MLB talent but falling in the super regional. He got Tennessee back to Omaha in 2023 then made history in 2024.
Tennessee ripped through the SEC, winning the regular-season title and the tournament title to earn the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. It reached the CWS, where it rolled to the finals with three straight wins. It beat Texas A&M in the three-game finals to win the national championship and become the first team in SEC history to win 60 games.
Vitello also had been an assistant coach at TCU and Missouri, where he played before entering coaching in 2003.
Former Tennessee star Drew Gilbert is on the Giants. He was traded to the Giants by the New York Mets on July 30 and was called up on Aug. 8 to make his MLB debut.
The Giants have more Vols in their minor league system with pitcher Blade Tidwell, shortstop Maui Ahuna and shortstop Gavin Kilen in their minor league system. Kilen was the Giants’ first-round pick in the 2025 MLB Draft.
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on X @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.
