ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Central Washington University Director of Athletics Dennis Francois announced Aaron Vaughn as the next head coach of the Wildcat baseball program.
"We are excited to welcome Aaron Vaughn to Central Washington University as the next head baseball coach," Francois said. "He has done a great job over the last five years at Wenatchee Valley and some our best baseball student-athletes over the past few years were products of Coach Vaughn's program. Aaron's familiarity with the GNAC, NWAC, and recruiting in the Pacific Northwest will be great assets as he takes the reigns of Wildcat Baseball. We look forward to welcoming Aaron, his wife Melissa, and their two daughters, Blair and Jovi to Ellensburg."
Vaughn previously served as the head coach at Wenatchee Valley College since 2021, where he led one of the most successful stretches in program history. During his tenure, the Knights emerged as a perennial contender in the NWAC, highlighted by a championship series appearance in 2026, the program's deepest postseason run in more than 20 years. WVC also earned a regional playoff berth in 2024 and consistently ranked among the top five offensive teams in the NWAC during the 2024, 2025, and 2026 seasons.
Prior to his time at WVC, Vaughn was the pitching and recruiting coordinator at Big Bend Community College from 2018 to 2021, helping guide the program to multiple winning seasons while developing high-level talent on the mound.
Vaughn's coaching journey also includes impactful time at the high school level, where he led Ferris High School (Spokane) to multiple winning seasons and a berth in the state tournament's final eight.
A former standout pitcher, Vaughn's playing career began with a decorated high school tenure in Arizona, where he was part of a 2A state championship team and earned Player of the Year honors. He went on to compete at Northwest Nazarene University, where he set a school record for wins in a single season as a starting pitcher and established himself as a reliable arm throughout his collegiate career.
Following college, Vaughn signed as a free agent with the Houston Astros organization in 2014 and went on to post a strong professional season. He later pitched for the Joliet Slammers of the Frontier League in 2015 before concluding his professional career.
In addition to his on-field accomplishments, Vaughn has developed a comprehensive skillset in program leadership, including recruiting, player development, academic oversight, and operations. He also served as Assistant Athletic Director at WVC, gaining valuable administrative experience.
"I am extremely excited and grateful to be joining the CWU Athletics family," Vaughn said. "The baseball program at CWU has some great history, and I can't wait to elevate the program to championship level culture while helping young men develop and grow both on and off the field. Coaching baseball is my biggest passion but seeing how athletics can impact a student long term is the reason I got into coaching in the first place. Leading this program has been a dream of mine for years and I am confident in the success we will have over the coming years. I am thrilled to be taking my family to Ellensburg and have the support that CWU offers... Go Wildcats!
I also want to thank my wife for always being my rock and support, my assistant coaches along the way that have aided in creating a winning program and culture at WVC, my family, and most of all God."
Vaughn will begin his role as the Wildcats' Head Coach on July 1, 2026.
