The San Francisco Giants are close to hiring University of Tennessee coach Tony Vitello as their next manager, the Chronicle confirmed.
If Vitello is hired, president of baseball operations Buster Posey would be going with an unconventional pick as Vitello has no professional baseball coaching experience, but a glowing reputation in NCAA baseball.
Vitello, though a strong candidate for the job, said “nothing is done,” and spoke with the Volunteers team about the reports after a scrimmage on Saturday, according to Knox News in Knoxville, Tenn.
The previous frontrunner for the position, former Giants catcher Nick Hundley, withdrew his name several days ago for family reasons, the Chronicle has learned; he and his wife, Amy, have two young daughters at home, one reason he declined to interview with the team two years earlier when asked.
Hundley, 42, is highly coveted — and there is another managerial position that might be a perfect fit for his family situation: A San Diego resident, Hundley also has been targeted by the Padres in their managerial search. Mike Shildt vacated that job Monday, announcing his retirement.
Vitello, 47, transformed the Tennessee baseball program that was one of the worst in the Southeastern Conference to a powerhouse. Since Vitello took the helm in 2017, the Volunteers have appeared in five NCAA super regionals and made the College World Series three times — winning a championship in 2024. Two months after winning the CWS title, Vitello became the highest-paid college baseball coach in history by signing a contract worth $3 million annually through 2029. The $3 million would be on the higher end for a Major League Baseball manager salary.
Two industry sources told the Chronicle that Tennessee is making a strong effort to retain him.
The Giants have strong links to the Tennessee program. Infielder Gavin Kilen, a first-round pick in the 2025 MLB draft, was a star for the Volunteers and the Giants acquired two former Vols in pitcher Blade Tidwell and outfielder Drew Gilbert at this year’s July trade deadline.
The decision would be a bold one for Posey and the Giants, who are hiring their third manager since Bruce Bochy departed following the 2019 season. Vitello has made waves in the collegiate baseball world not only for transforming the Volunteers program, but for his charisma and brash style as embodied by the energetic Gilbert.
In his remarks after firing Bob Melvin, Posey said he was looking for a new manager “who’s going to be obsessive about the details, obsessive about work, obsessive about getting the most out of players.”
Posey and the Giants decided less than a month ago to part ways with Melvin, who spent two years at the helm with underwhelming results. The Giants went 81-81 in 2025, missing the postseason by a handful of games, and 80-82 in 2024.
Vitello would have a say in how the rest of the coaching staff will be filled out. There are two clear openings as bench coach Ryan Christenson and third base coach Matt Williams, who both arrived with Melvin and were on his staffs in Oakland and San Diego, will not return to San Francisco. Other coaches on Melvin’s staff will be recommended to the next manager.
The Athletic was first to report Vitello becoming the focus of the Giants’ search.
