Tony Vitello made history by becoming the first person to transition from coaching a college program to managing a Major League Baseball team without any professional experience.

Vitello, 47, was named manager of the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, October 22, after spending the previous eight seasons as head coach at the University of Tennessee. In 2024, Vitello and the Volunteers won the school’s first national championship.

“I’m incredibly honored and grateful for this opportunity,” Vitello said in a statement. “I’m excited to lead this group of players and represent the San Francisco Giants. I can’t wait to get started and work to establish a culture that makes Giants faithful proud.”

Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey called Vitello “one of the brightest, most

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