Vance Williams has made a significant impact in both wrestling and football, showcasing his leadership and dedication to developing athletes. From his wrestling achievements in high school to his coaching roles in college football, Williams has consistently demonstrated a commitment to excellence.
High School Wrestling Achievements
As a senior at Marian Central High School, Vance Williams played a crucial role in his team's success. In a triangular meet against top-ranked Class 3A teams Mount Carmel and Joliet Catholic, Williams secured clinching wins in both duals, demonstrating his ability to perform under pressure. He pinned Mount Carmel’s Jairo Acuna and earned a major decision against Nolan Vogel of Joliet Catholic, contributing to a 40-38 and 39-32 victory, respectively.
Williams' coach, Jordan Blanton, praised his leadership and reliability in critical situations, noting that Williams' ability to make opponents uncomfortable often leads to panic and mistakes, creating opportunities for him to capitalize. His teammates also recognized his unique wrestling style and ability to deliver sensational reversals.
In the IHSA Class 1A tournament, Williams reached the 150-pound final, where he faced Jackson Carroll of Illini Bluffs. Although Williams lost the match, his performance highlighted his skill and determination.
College Football Coaching Career
Transitioning from wrestling to football, Vance Williams has built a notable coaching career, primarily focusing on defense. He spent four seasons as the assistant head coach at New Mexico State, where his leadership significantly improved the team's defensive performance. In 2015, the Aggies recorded 914 tackles, 56 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, 12 interceptions, and forced nine fumbles. Under his guidance, Jaden Wright was named the Sun Belt Conference’s Defensive Player of the Week.
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Prior to New Mexico State, Vance spent seven seasons with the Golden Flashes of Kent State, where he coached inside linebackers and served as the recruiting coordinator. As a linebackers coach, he mentored Derek Burrell, who earned All-MAC honors in consecutive seasons.
Vance also held coaching positions at Charleston Southern University (CSU). In his first season with the Bucs, Vance helmed a defensive unit ranked 18th in the FCS in total defense at 311.5 yards per game. Under his tutelage, Anthony Ellis continued to standout in earning Big South Defensive Player of the Year honors for the second consecutive season, while Johnny Robinson (DT) and Solomon Brown (DE) joined Ellis on the Big South All-Conference First Team. Vance’s defense continued its record-setting pace in the 2019 season as the Buccaneers recorded a Big South-high six First Team All-Conference selections, including Big South Defensive Freshman of the Year Cody Cline. The Bucs added a conference-record 35.0 sacks, while Shaundre Mims added a CSU record 10.0 sacks on the season. Six different defensive players earned All-Conference recognition in 2018, including All-Americans James Allen and Solomon Brown. The shortened 2020 season saw the CSU defense sit among the Big South’s best paced by five All-Conference selections.
Before transitioning to the college level, Vance served as the head coach at The Master’s Academy in Oviedo, Florida, leading his team to a 9-3 record and a conference championship in 2012. He also coached at Dobyns-Bennett HS and Unicoi County HS in Tennessee, where he led his team to the playoffs for the first time in fifteen years.
Vance was a letterwinner at ETSU in 1984 and earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1986.
Individual Wrestling State Champions (Class 2A)
Here's a table summarizing the Class 2A state champions in wrestling from Washington:
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| Weight (lbs) | Wrestler | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 120 | Noah Woods | |
| 144 | Peyton Cox | 40-4 |
| 157 | Wyatt Medlin | 48-3 |
| 215 | Josh Hoffer | 49-3 |
The Washington wrestling team achieved a program record with four individual state champions in Class 2A, highlighting the team's strength and depth.
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