Tennessee Coach Vitello Reported Candidate for San Francisco Giants Manager Job

Following the San Francisco Giants' decision to part ways with manager Bob Melvin after an 81-81 2025 season, Tennessee head baseball coach Tony Vitello has emerged as an unconventional but serious candidate for the managerial position. Vitello, who has no Major League Baseball managing experience, transformed Tennessee's baseball program into a national powerhouse, securing the 2024 NCAA Championship and consistently producing top MLB draft talent. Giants President of Baseball Operations Buster Posey and Vitello may have already met, possibly signaling serious discussions. Vitello's coaching success includes leading Tennessee to multiple College World Series and SEC titles, and he currently holds a lucrative contract through 2029. While a move from college baseball directly to an MLB managerial role is rare, comparisons have been drawn to Pat Murphy, who successfully transitioned from college coaching to managing the Milwaukee Brewers. However, it remains unclear whether Vitello is interested in the MLB position, as he continues to build a competitive Tennessee team for the upcoming season.