Giants on the Brink of Shocking Move: Tennessee’s Tony Vitello Poised to Become Next Manager

Big news brewing out of San Francisco as the Giants inch closer to naming Tony Vitello, the Tennessee Volunteers’ head coach, as their manager for the 2026 MLB season. Sources close to the situation—highlighted in a detailed report by The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly, Brittany Ghiroli, and Ken Rosenthal—indicate talks are intensifying, though nothing’s official just yet, with Vitello himself playing it cautious, telling The Athletic, “There is nothing to confirm.”

It’s no secret that Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey has had Vitello on his radar for quite a spell. When Texas Rangers’ Nick Hundley bowed out of the race, it seemed to clear a path for Vitello, who, despite lacking professional coaching experience, has carved out a stellar collegiate résumé over two decades, including a landmark national championship for Tennessee last year.

This would mark a historic shift in MLB, installing a manager straight from the college world without any pro ball coaching history. The lingering question now hangs over the next 24 to 72 hours as negotiations unfold, with contract logistics—including a reported $3 million buyout from Tennessee—playing a critical role. Giants fans and the baseball community alike are holding their breath, eager to see if Vitello’s collegiate success translates to the big leagues.

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The Giants appear to have found their next manager.

San Francisco is “closing in” on hiring Tennessee coach Tony Vitello to lead the team for the 2026 MLB season, The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly, Brittany Ghiroli and Ken Rosenthal reported in a shared column published Saturday, citing industry sources.

The Athletic reached out to the Giants, who had not yet responded to a request for comment at the time this article was written. Vitello told The Athletic via text message, “There is nothing to confirm.”

Vitello has been on Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey’s radar for a while, per NBC Sports Bay Area’s Alex Pavlovic. Meanwhile, Texas Rangers special assistant Nick Hundley, who was another frontrunner for the job, recently pulled himself out of the running.

Tony Vitello has been on Buster Posey’s radar for a while, and sources have said Posey kept circling back to him during the search this month. Nick Hundley was the other early frontrunner but I heard he pulled out of the running recently. Update here from The Athletic: https://t.co/tGAeyGUvGd

— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) October 18, 2025

Vitello has not yet coached at the professional level after spending more than the last two decades working in the college ranks. He had stints as an assistant at Missouri (2003-10), TCU (2011-13) and Arkansas (2014-17) before being hired as Tennessee’s coach in June 2017.

If hired by the Giants, Vitello would become the first manager in MLB history hired directly from the college ranks with no professional baseball experience.

The decision on whether or not San Francisco will hire Vitello will come in the next 24 to 72 hours, ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Pete Thamel reported Saturday, citing sources, as the two sides attempt to reach a deal. Passan also reported, citing sources, the buyout on Vitello’s contract at Tennessee is $3 million

The decision on whether Tennessee coach Tony Vitello will be the next manager of the San Francisco Giants is expected to come in the next 24 to 72 hours, sources tell me and @PeteThamel. Vitello has emerged as the top target of the Giants, but the sides have yet to reach a deal.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 18, 2025

In eight seasons with the Volunteers, Vitello led the program to a 341-131 record with two SEC regular-season and tournament titles. He also led them to their first national championship during the 2024 season.

After another disappointing campaign, the Giants parted ways with Bob Melvin last month.

It now appears Buster Posey, entering his second season running baseball operations in San Francisco, isn’t wasting any time filling the void as he hopes Vitello can help turn things around.

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