SF Giants reportedly closing in college coach as new manager

"According to a report from The Athletic, the Giants are closing in on hiring 47-year-old University of Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello, who has transformed the Vols into one of the nation's best collegiate programs during his eight seasons in Knoxville. Vitello, known for his passion and intensity, has transformed Tennessee into an SEC powerhouse since being hired in June 2017, winning a College World Series in '24, leading the Vols to three Super Regionals and posting an overall 341131 record."

"Hiring Vitello to manage San Francisco would be an outside-the-box move. Vitello has no experience managing at the professional level, and it is extremely uncommon in baseball to see such a leap. Tennessee coach Tony Vitello, left, cheers on his players in the fifth inning of an NCAA college baseball tournament super regional game against Southern Mississippi, Sunday, June 11, 2023, in Hattiesburg, Miss. The game was a continuation of Saturday's play which was suspended due to weather concerns. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)"

"The closest thing to a recent comparison is Pat Murphy, who has been successful in his first two seasons as the Milwaukee Brewers' manager after spending time coaching at Notre Dame (1988-94) and Arizona State (1995-2009). Murphy, though, spent several years rising through the ranks before becoming a full-time manager. Following a stint as the San Diego Padres' interim manager in June of 2015, Murphy served as the Brewers' bench coach beginning in '16 before becoming their manager in '24."

San Francisco appears to be closing on hiring 47-year-old University of Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello as its next manager. Vitello has built Tennessee into an SEC powerhouse since June 2017, winning the 2024 College World Series, reaching three Super Regionals, and compiling a strong record over eight seasons. The move would be atypical because Vitello has no professional managing experience and would jump directly from college to the major leagues. A recent MLB parallel is Pat Murphy, who moved into the majors after years that included professional bench coaching roles. Several Giants players were coached by Vitello at Tennessee.

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