No one knows what Tennessee baseball head coach and beloved member of the community Tony Vitello is going to do this week regarding his future. An announcement is expected at any moment whether or not he's going to stay with the Vols or make the leap to the bigs to become San Francisco's new manager.
It's not an easy decision and multiple reports have come in saying that Tony V is totally torn on what to do. If he does leave Tennessee for the Giants, we don't have to tell you that countless people are going to be absolutely livid with athletic director Danny White.
3 Tony Vitello replacements Tennessee must prioritize if he leaves for the MLB
Apparently, word is spreading around campus and Knoxville that White and Vitello haven't been able to get on the same page regarding NIL and revenue sharing. Apparently Vitello hasn't been happy with the money being allocated to his program compared to others on campus, particularly women's basketball. Could White not giving his team enough money to work with really be a main reason he decides to bolt?
We are close, not quite there, to reaching Gruden hysteria level on Rocky Top as Vitello watch continues. Fans with signs. Media reporting on Vitello sightings at scrimmage. Talk of a cage match between AD Danny White and Vitello. #VolTwitter cooking. No mattresses on fire yet.
— Chris Low (@clowfb) October 21, 2025
A rift between Danny White and Tony Vitello could lead to him taking the Giants job
As we mentioned above, a decision from Vitello could come at any second. If you're the Giants, you're of course going to respect Vitello's wish to talk with his family and come to the best call he can make, but SF is also going to want to focus on other candidates sooner rather than later.
That's why it's going to be of the utmost importance for White and Vitello to get in a room and hammer things out ASAP. If they indeed can't come to an agreement, then maybe the cage match Chris Low brought up will be how Vitello's time in Knoxville will come to an end.
At the same time, if NIL and revenue sharing is the main reason why Vitello is not happy with how things are going for him and his team, then you already know that people are going to be beyond livid with White for not getting things done there to make the popular coach happy.
Regardless of if he stays or not, Vitello is always going to be a Tennessee Vols legend. He helped the program win the College Baseball World Series for the first time ever, getting that job done in shocking fashion in 2024.
With how hot the Vols have been recruiting high school prospects and standouts via the portal, another year to remember should be on the way in 2026. Will Vitello be the one leading the clubhouse? That's fully up in the air, and it's on White to do everything possible to get him to stay.