New head baseball coach for Columbus school played as a pro for 6 years
One week after its head baseball coach left to lead a crosstown rival’s program in Columbus, St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School has hired his replacement.
Cobie Vance is the Vikings’ new head baseball coach, Pacelli announced Wednesday He succeeds Matt Ward, who departed after one season (7-23) to take over the baseball program at Calvary Christian School, where Steve Smith resigned for personal reasons after guiding the Knights to six state championships in 13 years.
In its news release, Pacelli said Vance “brings an impressive combination of playing experience, leadership, player development and a passion for mentoring young athletes.”
Vance is a native of Fayetteville, North Carolina. He graduated from the University of Alabama, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in human environmental sciences and was a three-year starter as an infielder for the Crimson Tide baseball program. From 2016-2018, he started all 168 games of his collegiate career and was recognized for his commitment to service as a member of the 2018 SEC Baseball Community Service Team.
In the 2018 Major League Baseball Draft, the Oakland Athletics selected Vance in the 18th round. During a six-year professional career in the minor leagues with the Athletics and the Miami Marlins, he advanced to Class AAA before retiring in 2024.
In 168 college games, Vance batted .281 with nine home runs, 83 RBIs and 94 runs scored. In 408 minor league games, he batted .245 with 12 home runs, 139 RBIs and 175 runs scored.
One of the highlights of Vance’s playing career came in 2022, when he hit a go-ahead grand slam in the decisive Game 3 of the Class AA Southern League Championship Series for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
After retiring as a player, Vance has worked as a business operations resident for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (2024) and an account executive for the Columbus Clingstones (2024-25). He also has been chief operating officer for marketing and mentoring company Brick Athlete Enterprises since 2023 and director of operations for baseball and softball training and apparel company Across the Diamond since 2025
Vance is cofounder of the Two-Six Project, a nonprofit organization developing marginalized youth, named after Cumberland County, which was the 26th county established in North Carolina.
“I am incredibly honored and excited to join St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School as the next head baseball coach,” Vance said in the news release. “Pacelli has a strong tradition of excellence, and I look forward to building relationships with our student-athletes and helping them grow as players, students and young men of character.
“Baseball has given me opportunities to learn invaluable lessons about discipline, teamwork, perseverance and leadership, and I am passionate about helping the next generation develop those same qualities. My goal is to build a program that competes at a high level while reflecting the values and mission of the Pacelli community. I can’t wait to get started and become part of the Viking family.”
Pacelli athletics director Calvin Thomas explained why the school’s administration hired Vance.
“His experience at the collegiate and professional levels, combined with his passion for developing young people, makes him an outstanding fit to lead our baseball program,” Thomas said in the news release. “We are confident he will help our student-athletes grow in character, faith and competition.”
