Tony Vitello details the part of leaving Tennessee for the Giants that he 'wouldn't wish on anybody'

Vitello, who led Tennessee to a national championship in 2024, left the Vols this past offseason to become the first college coach in modern history to jump straight into an MLB manager's role without previous pro baseball experience.

Tony Vitello details the part of leaving Tennessee for MLB that he wouldn't wish on anyone

Leaving Tennessee for the Giants wasn't an easy decision for Vitello. He agonized, publicly at one point, over the decision. But ultimately, he couldn't turn down a chance to manage in the big leagues. (Can you blame him?)

Vitello told The Athletic this week that saying goodbye to his players at Tennessee was one of the toughest parts of his decision.

"I’ve really enjoyed this job," said Vitello to The Athletic's Andrew Baggarly. "The organization has lived up to everything....Now, part of it is we’re 0-0. I get it. There’s going to be times where I tell (a PR representative), ‘Give me two minutes to throw a clipboard up against the wall. Then I’ll come in here and talk to you.’ I understand all the ups and downs that can come with it. Any criticism, you know, some of it’s hard to avoid, and we’re all human beings. We all want to be liked and all that stuff. But the only thing I’m really wrapped up in right now is the guys in that room.”

“That part’s important to me, because of the guys I had to walk away from,” continued Vitello. “I’m pretty blessed, but I wouldn’t wish (those goodbyes) on anybody. That’s a weird conundrum. I don’t get to pour into those guys anymore, so I feel like I’ve tried to do double with these guys. So they probably think I’m crazy. I know a couple guys in that locker room or on the roster that think I’m crazy. But we’re both wearing the same uniform starting tomorrow."

There are plenty of fans in Knoxville who are still upset that Vitello left -- but that's solely because of how invested he was in Tennessee and how much success he helped bring to the program. But make no mistake, leaving Rocky Top was one of the most difficult choices that Vitello has ever made. And that should mean something to fans.