Central Michigan University Athletics
Staff Directory
Jonathan Vance
- Title:
- Director of Pitching Performance
- Email:
Jonathan Vance is in his third year on coach Jake Sabol’s Central Michigan baseball staff, serving as the director of pitching performance.
In his first two seasons on the Chippewa staff, Vance helped oversee steady improvement in the victory total and in virtually every statistical category both at the plate and on the mound.
In 2026, the Chippewas finished in a tie for seventh in the Mid-American Conference, increasing their win total by more than 40 percent from 2024, when Sabol took the reins of the program. CMU won six of its 11 MAC series in 2026 for a total of 13 league victories, its most conference wins and league series victories under Sabol.
CMU showed marked improvement at the plate in 2026, hitting .290 as a team and totaling 60 home runs, a 15-point batting average improvement and a 20-homer boost over the 2025 Chippewas. The Chippewas finished 2026 with 175 extra-base hits, a near 10-percent increase over the previous season. Eight Chippewas hit at least five home runs in 2026 after just two hit at least five in 2025.
Ten Chippewas earned Academic All-MAC honors in 2026.
Before joining the Chippewas, Vance spent two seasons at Northwood where he worked under Sabol.
In 2023, Vance served as the pitching coach when the Timberwolves won the Great Midwest Athletic Conference regular season and tournament championships and qualified for the NCAA Division II Tournament. Northwood led the conference in earned run average, strikeouts, walks allowed, and innings pitched. Six Northwood pitchers earned all-conference honors including All-American left-hander Derek Clark.
In 2024, the Timberwolves again qualified for the NCAA Tournament and placed three pitchers on the all-conference team and two earned all All-Midwest Region honors. Closer Jake Jekielek was drafted in the 10th round of the 2024 Major League Baseball draft.
In 2022, Vance served as the pitching coach of the Royal Oak Leprechauns of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League. He served as the Leprechauns head coach in 2023 and then led them in their inaugural season (2024) in the Northwoods League.
He also worked with the Detroit Tigers and Cincinnati Reds organizations coaching in their respective summer youth development camps.
A native of Claremont, Calif., Vance played at East Los Angeles College and Valley City (N.D.) State. He pitched for three seasons in independent professional baseball in the Frontier League, the American Association, and the Atlantic League.
Vance resides in Mount Pleasant.
In his first two seasons on the Chippewa staff, Vance helped oversee steady improvement in the victory total and in virtually every statistical category both at the plate and on the mound.
In 2026, the Chippewas finished in a tie for seventh in the Mid-American Conference, increasing their win total by more than 40 percent from 2024, when Sabol took the reins of the program. CMU won six of its 11 MAC series in 2026 for a total of 13 league victories, its most conference wins and league series victories under Sabol.
CMU showed marked improvement at the plate in 2026, hitting .290 as a team and totaling 60 home runs, a 15-point batting average improvement and a 20-homer boost over the 2025 Chippewas. The Chippewas finished 2026 with 175 extra-base hits, a near 10-percent increase over the previous season. Eight Chippewas hit at least five home runs in 2026 after just two hit at least five in 2025.
Ten Chippewas earned Academic All-MAC honors in 2026.
Before joining the Chippewas, Vance spent two seasons at Northwood where he worked under Sabol.
In 2023, Vance served as the pitching coach when the Timberwolves won the Great Midwest Athletic Conference regular season and tournament championships and qualified for the NCAA Division II Tournament. Northwood led the conference in earned run average, strikeouts, walks allowed, and innings pitched. Six Northwood pitchers earned all-conference honors including All-American left-hander Derek Clark.
In 2024, the Timberwolves again qualified for the NCAA Tournament and placed three pitchers on the all-conference team and two earned all All-Midwest Region honors. Closer Jake Jekielek was drafted in the 10th round of the 2024 Major League Baseball draft.
In 2022, Vance served as the pitching coach of the Royal Oak Leprechauns of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League. He served as the Leprechauns head coach in 2023 and then led them in their inaugural season (2024) in the Northwoods League.
He also worked with the Detroit Tigers and Cincinnati Reds organizations coaching in their respective summer youth development camps.
A native of Claremont, Calif., Vance played at East Los Angeles College and Valley City (N.D.) State. He pitched for three seasons in independent professional baseball in the Frontier League, the American Association, and the Atlantic League.
Vance resides in Mount Pleasant.
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