Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello linked to Atlanta Braves opening

Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello has been linked to yet another Major League Baseball head coach opening.

Vitello has now been linked to the Atlanta Braves head coach opening following Brian Snitker‘s exit, per The Athletic’s David O’Brien. Earlier this week, Vitello’s name was floated as a potential candidate for the San Francisco Giants’ head coaching job by The Athletic‘s Andrew Baggarly.

“If the Braves think outside the box, they might possibly consider University of Tennessee coach Tony Vitello,” O’Brien wrote.

Tennessee Head Baseball Coach Tony Vitello has been named as a possible candidate for the Atlanta Braves manager vacancy:

The Athletic’s David O’Brien named Vitello as a possible option for Atlanta following longtime manager Brain Snitker’s retirement.

“If the Braves think… pic.twitter.com/mTMuVQJldQ

— FOX Sports Knoxville (@FOXSportsKnox) October 1, 2025

Vitello, who made stops as an assistant coach at Missouri, TCU and Arkansas from 2003-2017, has completely flipped the stigma around Tennessee baseball during his eight-year tenure in Knoxville. After posting a 29-27 record in his first season (2018), the ‘Vols are 312-104 with one National Championship and three trips to Omaha over the past seven seasons.

Prior to Vitello’s arrival, had made just four trips to the College World Series in program history. Along with the title in 2024, Coach V has led them to five consecutive NCAA Regional titles, six consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and two SEC regular season/Tournament titles. The Missouri native has brought unprecedented success to the program and his departure would be devastating.

Vitello was not a fan of the House settlement that passed in June

The head coach could possibly be looking to get out of the world of college sports after the long-awaited approval of the $2.8 billion House settlement was passed, which allowed universities to pay their players directly. This sweeping change took five years to complete and was largely hung up on roster limitations, among other minor details.

Following Tennessee‘s 4-3 loss to Arkansas in the Fayetteville Super Regional, Vitello took a jab at the settlement and called it ‘the dumbest thing I’ve ever been involved in my life’.

“Yeah, I don’t have anything specific. Tight game, so we’ll look back and see how I can do a better job,” Vitello said during his opening statement. “I know it was good to get to the park today. That deal last night (House settlement) was the dumbest thing I’ve ever been involved in my life. And I lived at the Lake of the Ozarks one summer. So it was just good to get here and play, get the series underway.”