Tennessee Vols fans aren’t very happy with Tony Vitello after the latest news that dropped
Tony Vitello resigned as the head coach of the Tennessee Vols last month to become the new manager of the San Francisco Giants.
Most fans on Rocky Top were happy for Tony Vitello when he stepped down as the head coach of the Tennessee Vols to take over as the new manager of the San Francisco Giants.
Sure, Vols fans were sad to see the coach that guided Tennessee to a national championship in 2024 leave for another job, but they understood that the chance to manage in MLB was too great of an opportunity to pass up.
The tone from Vols fans, however, changed a bit on Wednesday when news broke that renowned Tennessee pitching coach Frank Anderson is leaving Knoxville to join Vitello in San Francisco.
Vols fans aren’t happy that Tony Vitello is taking Frank Anderson with him to MLB
The reaction on social media from (some) Vols fans to the news that Anderson is leaving for San Francisco was intense.
Numerous fans were highly upset that Vitello is taking a key member of the Tennessee staff with him to MLB.
I don’t understand the anger.
Anderson, like any coach, has to do what’s best for himself personally and professionally. If this is the move that he thinks is best for his life, then you gotta respect it. Coaches change jobs all the time. It’s a pretty normal thing that happens in college and pro sports.
I also don’t understand how any Vols fan could have an ounce of disdain for Vitello. The guy completely changed Tennessee’s baseball program and he delivered a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. Build a statue or name a dugout after him, or however you want to honor him. But souring the relationship with the best coach that Tennessee’s had since Pat Summitt was dominating college basketball seems unwise. There’s no need for that.
Additionally, it sounds like Anderson had been contemplating leaving Tennessee in recent years anyway, so it’s not like Vitello had to beg him to come to San Francisco.
I understand that Tennessee fans aren’t thrilled that Vitello left while the program was at its peak. It’s certainly not what anyone envisioned happening going into this offseason. But Vitello gave his all for Tennessee for eight seasons. I don’t think there’s any part of him that’s trying to harm the UT baseball program by taking Anderson with him. It just happens to be collateral damage.
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Tony Vitello recently stepped down as the head coach of the Tennessee Vols to become the new manager of the San Francisco Giants.
