Scrub walk-on’ turned opportunity of a lifetime into an unprecedented leap from Tennessee’s head coach to the Giants’ new manager.

San Francisco Giants outfielder Drew Gilbert is one of the few players that knows the new manager on a personal basis.

Gilbert describes the 47-year-old Vitello as a “chameleon” capable of talking to anybody and maintaining strong relationships up and down the roster. President of baseball operations Buster Posey is counting on that, and there’s little doubt that Vitello’s interpersonal skills played a strong part in the decision to hire him.

"I think it's a great move," Pat Murphy said. "I think Buster Posey is trying to get it right and not just following normal patterns."

San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello has a pre-existing relationship with a Major League star that could be a trump card in signing him this offseason.

Tony Vitello became the first person to transition from coaching a college program to managing an MLB team without any professional experience

Vitello spoke with local media in Knoxville, Tenn. about his decision to leave the Volunteers for the major leagues.

The San Francisco Giants are gambling that former Tennessee coach Tony Vitello can get them back into the playoffs and go after a World Series.

After eight seasons as Tennessee’s head coach, Vitello is set to become the manager of Major League Baseball’s San Francisco Giants, marking an unprecedented move in baseball history. The 47-year-old Vitello has become the first college coach to immediately become a manager without any prior professional experience.