Former Vols coach Tony Vitello makes an admission about himself that college baseball fans are going to have a hard time believing
Former Tennessee Vols baseball coach Tony Vitello made an admission about himself last week that most college baseball fans are going to have a hard time believing. Vitello, who left Tennessee in October to become the new manager of the San Francisco Giants, has a reputation for being a fiery coach who isn’t afraid to […]
Former Tennessee Vols baseball coach Tony Vitello made an admission about himself last week that most college baseball fans are going to have a hard time believing.
Vitello, who left Tennessee in October to become the new manager of the San Francisco Giants, has a reputation for being a fiery coach who isn’t afraid to piss off opponents via dugout shenanigans and big celebrations.
ESPN’s Greg McElroy, in fact, threw some bizarre shade at Vitello for the way he celebrated after Tennessee won the national championship in 2024.
Tony Vitello says he’s “not too big of a fan of that stuff”
Vitello joined Foul Territory last week at the MLB winter meetings in Orlando and he was asked if he’s going to be able to reel in his emotions while managing in the big leagues.
“You can’t be wearing fur coats and doing the whole daddy hat,” said host AJ Pierzynski.
“That was not my idea,” responded Vitello with a laugh. “And no, I agree. That’s another moment, post championship or whatever, they threw that (the fur coat) on me without my doing. And I’m not too big of a fan of that stuff, but it’s part of the game. And I think I had to adapt to what the players were starting to do.
“And to be honest with you, I don’t know that I can adapt to some of the things that are starting to go on now at the high school level and at the college level, to an extreme [level]. So I’ve kind of got my own set of values, but I’m going to lean on people that have been in the big leagues and ask them what’s a little corny and more more suited for college, and what’s more appropriate for the [big leagues].”
I’m sure plenty of fans — especially opposing fans that only see clips of Vitello going at umpires on social media — will have a hard time believing that the former Tennessee coach wasn’t a big fan of “that stuff”.
But I’m buying what Vitello is selling. I believe him. Now, I can’t speak to Vitello’s personal values that he referenced, but one thing that made him so successful at Tennessee was that he let the players be themselves — as long they were being accountable to each other (no bad teammates), competing hard, and putting in the work.
Vitello understands that just because he sees things one way, doesn’t mean that’s always the best way to do it. And that open-minded approach is why he has a really good chance to find success in MLB.
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