The college-to-pro move for coaches has a mixed history, from Jerry Tarkanian to Jimmy Johnson
October 23, 2025
Tony Vitello’s move from college coach to pro manager is a rare journey in modern baseball. After leading Tennessee to its first College World Series title in 2024, Vitello has been hired by Buster Posey to manage the San Francisco Giants. While others like Casey Stengel and Pat Murphy have transitioned from college to the majors, Vitello is the first in modern history to do so without any pro experience. This path has been taken in other sports with mixed results, including Lou Holtz, Jimmy Johnson and Brad Stevens, each having varied success in their respective leagues.