TUCSON, Ariz. — Arizona Baseball head coach Chip Hale proudly announced today the addition of Kevin Vance to the Wildcats staff as an assistant coach. Coach Vance will oversee the Arizona pitching staff and contribute to the program's recruiting efforts.

Vance joins the program after serving two seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Boston College where this year he helped lead the Eagles to an NCAA Regional berth, their first since 2016.

"We are thrilled to add a proven winner in coach Vance to our program," Hale said. "Kevin has built pitching staffs with defined identities and found success at every step on his coaching journey. He consistently displays an elite capacity to leverage analytics to maximize each of his pitcher's abilities. Rounding out our staff with a tough worker and tireless recruiter completes this program and sets us up for immediate and long-term success."

Vance was a major contributor to Boston College's program record 37 wins this year while crafting the pitching staff's best ERA since 2019. Under his direction, Eagles right-hander and Division III transfer Chris Flynn earned Second Team All-ACC honors after going 7-3 with a team-leading 4.34 ERA and 84 strikeouts.

"I couldn't be more thankful to coach Hale and the entire Arizona Baseball staff for welcoming me to Tucson," Vance said. "The opportunity to build on the renowned winning tradition here is what you dream of. Further developing the talented pitching staff already in place will be my top priority. I'm excited to get to work and get back to Omaha for the Wildcat family and for the city of Tucson."

Following the 2022 season, three pitchers molded by Vance earned a selection in the Major League Baseball Draft.

Prior to his time in Boston, Vance spent five years at the University of Rhode Island, the last four of which he served as the Rams pitching coach and recruiting coordinator. He was promoted into the role after one year as the program's volunteer assistant coach.

Rhode Island ranked top four in the Atlantic 10 Conference in ERA in all five seasons in which they benefited from Vance's coaching, highlighted by a 3.65 mark in 2017 that paced the league and ranked 31^st nationally. Across five seasons with the Rams, Vance coached one All-American, two Atlantic 10 All-Conference selections, and three Atlantic 10 Pitchers of the Week.

Before entering the coaching ranks, Vance enjoyed a successful collegiate and professional playing career. As a two-way star at UConn from 2009-11 he picked up two All-Big East selections and an All-America nod as a junior. Vance's 13 saves in 2011 and 21 career saves still stand as the fifth and second best marks in Huskies history, respectively.

Following his collegiate career, the Chicago White Sox selected him in the 19^th round of the 2011 MLB Draft. Vance went on to pitch five seasons in organized baseball, reaching as high as Triple-A Reno in 2015. He finished his minor league career with a 20-14 record, 15 saves, 365 strikeouts, and a 3.81 ERA across 177 games.

Vance earned his undergraduate degree in Coaching and Sport Administration from UConn in 2012 and returned to school to earn a master's degree in Sports Leadership from Northeastern in 2016.
 

Kevin Vance Coaching History

• 2023-current: Arizona, Assistant Coach
• 2022-23: Boston College, Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator
• 2018-21: Rhode Island, Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator
• 2017: Rhode Island, Volunteer Assistant Coach
• 2012: Connecticut, Undergraduate Assistant Coach

Kevin Vance Playing History

• 2016: Team Philippines
• 2016: New Britain Bees (independent Atlantic League)
• 2016: Long Island Ducks (independent Atlantic League)
• 2015: Reno Aces (Triple-A)
• 2015: Mobile Bay Bears (Double-A)
• 2015: Visalia Rawhide (Advanced-A)
• 2013-14: Birmingham Barons (Double-A)
• 2012: Winston-Salem Dash (Advanced-A)
• 2012: Kannapolis Intimidators (Single-A)
• 2011: Great Falls Voyagers (Rookie)
• 2009-11: Connecticut Huskies (NCAA)