After days of negotiations, Tennessee coach Tony Vitello has been named the new manager of the San Francisco Giants, the team announced Wednesday, marking the first time a big league team has hired a manager directly from a college program without any experience as a professional coach.
Vitello -- who considered staying at Tennessee, where he won the Men's College World Series in 2024 -- replaces Bob Melvin, who was fired Sept. 29 following an 81-81 season, the Giants' fourth consecutive year without a playoff berth.
"I'm incredibly honored and grateful for this opportunity," Vitello said in a statement.