Coach Pat Vance has worn many hats in his service to wrestling for over 30 years. Pat has performed the roles of assistant wrestling coach, head wrestling coach, tournament director, and athletic director at Nitro High School. During his tenure as head coach, Pat Vance has produced nearly 20 all-state wrestlers, including one state champion. When Vance resigned from coaching and took over the reins as athletic director at Nitro, he was determined to keep the mat program at the school strong. He enlisted the services of some of the finest wrestling minds in the area, included Steve White, Steve Stoffel, and Chuck Easter. Coach Vance's greatest contribution to wrestling was his 30-year stint as the Nitro Invitational Wrestling Tournament Director. Because of his dedication to this annual competition at the school, the Nitro Invitational Wrestling Tournament has been re-named the "Pat Vance Invitational Wrestling Tournament" in 2004. Pat Vance's principal and longtime friend, Paul McClanahan, had this to say about Pat's work ethic: "I relied very heavily on Pat's expertise, leadership, experience, and unwavering professionalism. However, the most sterling quality that he brought to his job was his fairness and conscientiousness when dealing his students and fellow coaches." Pat and his wife of 38 years, Joanne, have two lovely daughters, Leigh Ann and Beth, and two beautiful grandchildren -- Jordan (7) and Mackenzie (2) The National Wrestling Hall of Fame honors Pat Vance with a "Lifetime Service to Wrestling" award, class of 2004.