On Wednesday, it was announced that former Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello is going to be the next manager of the San Francisco Giants.
He is the first person to make the direct jump from college baseball head coach to Major League Baseball manager.
With his career in Knoxville wrapped up, here is a look back at the eight elite seasons Vitello had as the coach of Tennessee.
An Elite Career and the Foundation of a Big College Baseball Program
Vitello was hired as Tennessee’s head baseball coach in 2017. It was his first head coaching job. He was previously an assistant coach for Missouri, TCU, and Arkansas.
In 2019, he led the Volunteers to the NCAA Tournament. It was the program’s first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2005.
After a shortened 2020 baseball season, Vitello went on to lead Tennessee to the College World Series three times in 2021, 2023, and 2024.
In 2024, he led Tennessee to its first ever national championship. In that same season, the Volunteers had 60 wins, won a share of the SEC regular season championship, and also won the SEC Tournament.
The 2024 Volunteers team became the first SEC team to get 60 wins in a season.
TENNESSEE HAS DONE IT!
THE FIRST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN @VOL_BASEBALL HISTORY ???? pic.twitter.com/AmiWwc678W
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 25, 2024
Vitello also led Tennessee to another SEC regular season and tournament title during the 2022 season. In that year, he was named the SEC Coach of the Year.
In total, he finished with 341 wins throughout his tenure in Knoxville.
Vitello put Tennessee on the map. The Volunteers are now among the elite programs in college baseball thanks to the leadership and coaching of the Giants’ new manager.
NCAA News: https://worldbaseball.com/league/ncaa/
PHOTO: Tennessee coach Tony Vitello, center, hoists the championship trophy following his team’s 6-5 victory against Texas A&M in Game 3 of the NCAA College World Series baseball finals in Omaha, Neb., Monday, June 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz)
