As Tennessee baseball prepares for the start of a new season this week, it’s the beginning of a new era with Josh Elander replacing Tony Vitello as the Vols’ head coach. It will undoubtedly have a different feel seeing No. 24 instead of No. 22 come out for pitching changes and writing the scorecard.
Vitello left Tennessee after an incredibly successful eight years to become the new manager of the San Fransisco Giants back in October. The move shook up both MLB hiring practices as well as the college baseball landscape. Much has been made both nationally and locally about the decision. Locally, many fans have cast criticism and blame on Tennessee Director of Athletics Danny White for Vitello’s decision.
Joining “Hot Mic” with Jonathan Hutton and Chad Withrow this week, Vitello pushed back at some of the criticism directed at his former boss.
“It’s not (fair),” Vitello said of the criticism. “And I’ll say, it’s not fair for us to have a barrier wall put up in our relationship too because Danny is really exceptional when it comes to finances. There’s been a lot of restructuring. Obviously, you just go to the baseball stadium but you could go all over campus and see the work that’s being done with the buildings that are being put on campus. The rest was left up to us. We’re going to take care of our student-athletes and take care of our fans, especially the ones maybe with an extra jingle in their pocket, and the rest is up to you.”
More From RTI: Josh Elander Compares Tennessee Starting Pitcher To Former SEC Pitcher of the Year
Many criticized White for not better supporting the baseball program financially with some claiming that White diverted NIL money away from baseball and towards the Lady Vols basketball program— something White vehemently denied following Vitello’s departure.
White stated that the baseball budget expanded from $3.5 million to $14 million during Vitello’s tenure as head coach and Tennessee is putting the final touches on a $109 million renovation of Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
“Why it’s easy to have success? The athletic department,” Vitello told RTI following his departure in October. “It truly is a sorority and fraternity amongst us as coaches. Danny White’s leadership, not just on the financial end with the buildings and the other things that have gone on here — just (the) direction of hiring the right people at all these specific sports sites on our campus. It goes up to (Chancellor) Donde (Plowman), who is so energetic and the same person you see every day. Of course, (University President) Randy Boyd is probably, I don’t know the other university presidents, but it’s pretty unique. How all that falls in line makes it easier on— where it’s never easy in our league, or now across the nation to have success. They put all of us in a position to have success.”
More From RTI: Tennessee Baseball 2026 Lineup Preview
Since his departure, Vitello has frequently talked about the opportunity that the San Fransisco Giants managerial job presented him and how the challenge was something he wanted to embrace. Tennessee players and coaches encouraged him to follow his heart while he struggled with the decision.
Vitello — who led Tennessee to four SEC Championships, three College World Series appearances and the 2024 National Championship in his eight years in Knoxville — is the first ever coach to go directly from college to a MLB managerial position.
“It was tough,” Vitello said. “It was not easy. Regardless, as Pat Summitt says, be where your feet are. I think it’s a challenge and most athletes and competitors want to meet challenges head on. Just to see what they can and can’t do. I don’t know what that answer is but it’s been phenomenal to have the support of people because I think it’ll lift up my efforts a little bit and it certainly has boosted my mood about the move.”
Tennessee baseball begins its 2026 season Friday afternoon when it faces Nicholls in a three-game series at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The Giants begin their 2026 season on March 25 against the New York Yankees at Oracle Park in San Fransisco.
