Zane Vance

Class:
Redshirt

Zane Vance is in the midst of his sixth season on the Golden Flashes' coaching staff after joining the program prior to the start of the 2004 season as the inside linebackers coach. In his second year as the recruiting coordinator, Vance has the additional duty of serving as the special teams coordinator while working with the tight ends.

His tenure as recruiting coordinator got off to a flying start as the Flashes' 2009 signing class was rated 62nd in the country by Rivals.com - tops in the Mid-American Conference and the highest in the history of the program.
In his role as linebackers coach, he mentored Derek Burrell to a pair of All-MAC honors after he posted 112 and 119 tackles in back-to-back seasons.

Vance came to Kent State following eight successful years as the special teams coordinator, linebackers and fullbacks coach with the Dobyns-Bennett H.S. football team in Kinsport, Tennessee. During his tenure at Dobyns-Bennett, 1996-03, the team captured the Big East Conference title in seven of eight seasons.

Prior to his position at Dobyns-Bennett, Vance served as head coach of the Unicoi County H.S. football team in Erwin, Tennessee from 1993-95. In his time there, he led his team to the playoffs for the first time in fifteen years.
He started his coaching career at his alma mater, East Tennessee State University. There he served as the defensive line coach from 1987-91, where he was able to coach two future NFL players.

Vance was a letter winner at East Tennessee State University in 1984 where he earned a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1986. He continued his education at Austin Peay State University, earning a master's degree in health and physical education.

He and his wife Debbie have five sons, Nate, Taylor, Isaac, Seth and Luke. The family resides in Stow.