SF Giants Manager Vitello Clarifies Hiring Timeline

Vitello opened up about the process of taking the Giants job, four months after leaving Tennessee.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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In a Monday media availability, new San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello posed a question to reporters, asking when they first thought he would take the job. Vitello left his previous position as head coach of the University of Tennessee baseball team in October 2025 to join the Giants, though the hiring process took several months to finalize.

Why it matters

Vitello's hiring was a closely watched move, as he was a successful college coach taking on his first major league managerial role. The delayed timeline of his hiring raised some questions, which Vitello sought to address in his comments.

The details

Vitello said he was just "having a conversation - therapy if you will" about the hiring process, which he acknowledged took longer than expected to complete. The Giants had been searching for a new manager since the end of the 2025 season.

  • Vitello left his position as head coach of the University of Tennessee baseball team in October 2025.
  • Vitello was hired as the new manager of the San Francisco Giants in February 2026.

The players

Tony Vitello

The new manager of the San Francisco Giants, who previously served as the head coach of the University of Tennessee baseball team.

San Francisco Giants

The Major League Baseball team that hired Tony Vitello as their new manager in February 2026.

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What they’re saying

“I'm just kind of having a conversation — therapy if you will,”

— Tony Vitello, San Francisco Giants Manager (The Mercury News)

The takeaway

Vitello's hiring as Giants manager, after a successful tenure at Tennessee, represents a high-profile move for both the coach and the team. The delayed timeline of the hiring process raised some questions, which Vitello sought to address openly with reporters as he begins his new role.