Tony Vitello Nearing Deal To Become Next Giants Manager

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Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello has emerged as the leading candidate to become the next manager of the San Francisco Giants, multiple sources confirmed to Baseball America. Vitello, who has transformed the Volunteers into a national powerhouse since taking over in 2018, owns the highest winning percentage in program history and led Tennessee to its first national championship in 2024. 

Sources indicated that negotiations between Vitello and the Giants have advanced to the final stages, but are still ongoing.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic was the first to report the interest between Vitello and the Giants. 

The move would mark the most high-profile college-to-professional coaching transition in baseball history, pairing one of the sportâ€s most dynamic college leaders with one of major league baseballâ€s most tradition-rich franchises. San Francisco, which fired manager Bob Melvin after the 2025 season, has prioritized finding a leader capable of energizing both its clubhouse and fan base. 

Vitelloâ€s reputation as a fierce competitor and elite motivator—qualities that helped Tennessee reclaim its national relevance—made him an especially appealing choice.

Vitelloâ€s tenure in Knoxville has been defined by both success and swagger. Under his direction, the Volunteers became the face of college baseballâ€s new era: aggressive, unapologetic and relentlessly talented. Tennessee has made three College World Series appearances in the last five seasons and consistently recruited at a top-five national level. In 2024, Vitello guided the program to a school-record 61 wins and a national title, solidifying his standing as the premier coach in the college game. Weeks later, he became the first college baseball coach to eclipse the $3 million mark in annual average salary, signing a deal that underscored Tennesseeâ€s intent to keep him long term.

Still, Vitelloâ€s ambitions have long been rumored to extend beyond the college ranks. A Missouri native who spent time as an assistant at TCU and Arkansas before taking the Tennessee job, he has been closely watched by MLB organizations intrigued by his blend of player development acumen and modern leadership style. Several former Volunteers—most notably standout pitchers who thrived under Tennesseeâ€s developmental system—have credited Vitelloâ€s staff for preparing them for professional success, an appealing trait for a major league club seeking to bridge analytics and on-field competitiveness, especially in an era that increasingly accelerates college talent to the major league level. 

If finalized, Vitelloâ€s departure would leave a significant void at Tennessee, where the baseball program has become synonymous with his identity and intensity. The Volunteers are expected to move quickly in their search for a replacement, with multiple internal candidates likely to garner consideration. But regardless of who follows him, Vitelloâ€s impact on the program—and on college baseball at large—will linger. He turned Tennessee into a juggernaut, changed the expectations for what college baseball could be and now appears poised to take his firebrand style to the biggest stage yet.

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