At no point in recent Major League Baseball history, per the Chronicle’s research, has anyone with no Major League Baseball managing experience jumped from a college coach job right into managing in the big leagues.
Plucking the bold, passionate college coach with no professional experience is just as bold a choice for Giants resident of baseball operations Buster Posey, who is showing himself to be an executive who leans heavily on his gut instinct and isn’t afraid to make big, sometimes unorthodox moves. Posey signed free agent shortstop Willy Adames to the richest contract in franchise history last December, made a deal for infielder Rafael Devers more than a month before the July trade deadline and, now, may have a manager who hasn’t set foot on a professional baseball field in such a capacity.
Vitello made himself known in the baseball world for his transformative powers in Knoxville. He transformed Tennessee from a bottom-feeding club into the toast of the Southeastern Conference, winners of the 2024 College World Series with trips to five NCAA super regionals and three College World Series.
Winning isn’t the only part of his allure, Vitello became a main character of NCAA baseball for the impassioned way he coaches. The Volunteers at their best play bold, energetic baseball that mirrors their coach’s style. Drew Gilbert, who played under Vitello at Tennessee, gave the Giants a sneak peek at the Vitello way when he burst onto the scene with his high-intensity defense in the outfield while turning the dugout into a party.
The news of Vitello’s potential hiring shocked the baseball world and left some wondering how his style might work in the majors. The Chronicle heard from several industry sources, some of whom celebrated the idea of new blood in an ecosystem that often recycles known commodities while others had questions over the potential hire.
“I think he would infuse a lot of energy into the organization,” one American League scout said. “We need new blood instead of retreads in this day and age.”
An agent wondered if veteran players would have reservations about a college coach who has no big league experience, and several executives questioned whether his exuberant approach and big personality would be a fit in the majors. Younger players, it was suggested, may be particularly inspired by his fiery approach.
Vitello’s emergence comes comes on the heels of Pat Murphy’s rise in the majors. The Milwaukee Brewers manager is known for his affable, sometimes silly approach that is rooted in his college coaching days. Murphy was the head coach at Notre Dame in 1988-94, then at Arizona State 1995-2009, before he joined the San Diego Padres organization. He managed four-plus seasons in the minors for San Diego before becoming the Padres’ interim manager in June 2015 after Bud Black was fired.
Murphy then became the bench coach for the Brewers in 2016 before taking over as manager when Craig Counsell left to manage the Chicago Cubs after the 2023 season. Murphy was the NL Manager of the Year in 2024, and could win again, after leading the Brewers to NL Central titles in both seasons.
There is also the case of Dick Howser, who after his eight-year major league playing career became the third base coach with the New York Yankees for 10 seasons. Howser then took a job at Florida State as their head coach in 1979 before the Yankees hired him as manager ahead of the 1980 season. Howser led the Yankees to the playoffs, but was fired after they lost in the AL championship series. In 1981, he became the manager of the Kansas City Royals, with whom he made the postseason three times in six seasons — winning the World Series in 1985 and retiring after 1986.
It’s extraordinarily uncommon for big league teams to dip into the NCAA ranks to feed the coaching ecosystem. Murphy is an outlier, but he had pro experience before taking the Milwaukee job.
Vitello’s path to the Giants job would be forged by him alone.
Staff writer Susan Slusser contributed to this article.
