Tony Vitello had yet to make his move from Tennessee to the San Francisco Giants official before Razorback fans were playing a supercharged game of “what if.”
Vitello, who, after three years under Dave Van Horn at Arkansas, took over a UT program in 2017 that had become close to an afterthought and led the Volunteers to the national title in 2024, made it official on Wednesday. He is taking a pay cut to manage the San Francisco Giants, and thus is the first college coach to jump straight into the MLB as a manager.
Ever since rumors surfaced of the move last week, Arkansas fans began playing that dreaded but addictive game of what if and began speculating about Vitello’s motives. Some Tennessee fans shared the sentiment — Vitello was getting his shot on the big stage, and if it doesn’t work out after a few seasons, the timing might be right for him to replace DVH in Fayetteville.
Van Horn, who recently turned 65, has said he has no plans to retire — and besides, top assistant and pitching coach Matt Hobbs is generally considered DVH’s heir apparent — but that doesn’t stop the speculation mill.
Though a strong rivalry has emerged between Arkansas and Tennessee on the diamond, Vitello has always lauded the Razorback program as being at the top of the sport. It’s easy to see why many fans immediately turn to him when the subject of DVH’s replacement is broached.
Writing for Best of Arkansas Sports, Michael Main offered a scenario that plays out with Vitello taking his shot in the bigs, lasting a few seasons and then returning to Fayetteville to replace Van Horn when he later retires. That way, he avoids the optics of “dumping” Tennessee for Arkansas. An excerpt:
That would play right into the hands of Razorback fans with eyes on the future. Van Horn is now eligible for Medicare after turning 65 last month, and while he says he’s still got some gas left in the tank, most folks recognize that the end of his 23-year tenure is likely coming soon.
It’s only natural to start speculating on who could get the baton from DVH. Pitching coach Matt Hobbs and Georgia head coach Wes Johnson (another former Arkansas assistant) will be in the conversation, but Vitello is by far the most popular and most decorated option.
The average stint for an MLB manager is just 3.1 years, and a potentially rough time with the Giants would make a return to the college level the most logical option for Vitello. That timeline also conveniently lines up with when Van Horn is likely to ride into the sunset. The Head Hog’s current contract runs through 2031, when he will be 71 years old, but he could decide to hang it up before then.
Ben Upton of D1 Baseball had similar notions this week.
Knoxville to Fayetteville by way of San Francisco is one heck of a layover. Speculation is fun, as the current Arkansas football coaching search can attest, and it’s nice to have options, but here’s to much success for Vitello in San Fran and to many more years of DVH on the Hill. Not to mention an elusive NCAA championship trophy or four taking roost in the Hunt Center. When DVH does indeed call it a career, and what a career it’s been, then let the rumor mill run.
