“I don’t expect Tony Vitello to take the Texas job”: Analyst shuts down potential David Pierce replacement rumors around Tennessee HC

Tennessee Vols head coach Tony Vitello is one of the hottest coaching commodities in college baseball. Vitello has led the Vols to the 2024 College World Series and earned plaudits for his team's style of play.

Ahead of Game 3 of the CWS finals, there are rumors of him being tapped up by a major program at the University of Texas, Austin.

However, college baseball analyst Trey Wallace has emphatically shut down such rumors. Wallace, a Senior College Sports Writer for OutKick, said:

"Vitello is gonna get a fat contract extension once this game ends tonight. Either way, Danny White will make him one of the highest-paid coaches in the country and baseball. I don't expect anybody to tell him to take the Texas job."

Wallace continued by saying:

"He has built something in Knoxville. And in talking with a number of people, he is comfortable where he is at right now. The money that they are putting into the University of Tennessee, this new stadium that will be done, they say, by the start of next season, skeptical on that part. But I just do not see him leaving Tennessee and talking with some folks."

Tony Vitello is rumored to be in the running for the Texas HC job

The rumors of Tony Vitello moving to the University of Texas came after the team parted ways with former Baseball America Coach of the Year, David Pierce.

Pierce was the head coach of Texas from 2017–24 and one of the more respected head coaches in the collegiate ranks.

However, Pierce could only lead the program to a 36–24 regular season record, and the side couldn't get past the NCAA Regionals. Hence, it didn't come as a surprise when both parties parted ways.

Tony Vitello is a tantalizing option for Texas as he's one of the best head coaches in college baseball. He is the most successful head coach in modern Tennessee history and is one win away from winning the College World Series.

Tony Vitello and Tennessee Vols aiming for first College World Series title

Tony Vitello and his Vols are a win away from capturing the first World Series in the program's history. The Vols lost Game 1 of the CWS to the Texas A&M Aggies but responded in kind with a stellar Game 2 win.

Hence, both teams have all to play for in Game 3 at the Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska. The biggest contest in college baseball will be decided with Game 3, which is the most important game in both teams' histories.