- July 9, 2026
After finishing his playing career, Jace Wilson had wanted to come home and coach baseball at Flagler Palm Coast High School. He was hoping to get a chance to be an assistant coach, but when the head coaching position opening up last month, Wilson immediately applied and got the job.
FPC athletic director Scott Drabczyk announced Wilson’s hiring on Thursday, July 9.
“We are excited to welcome one of our own back to Flagler Palm Coast,” Drabczyk said.
Wilson replaces Kyle Marsh, who stepped down last month and was subsequently named the new head coach at DeLand High.
Wilson graduated from FPC in 2019 and went on to play baseball at Daytona State College and NCAA Division II Young Harris College (Georgia). This past year, Wilson was a baseball graduate assistant at NAIA national champ Tennessee Wesleyan University, where he went on to earn a master’s degree in sports leadership.
Returning home to coach has long been his goal. For the second consecutive summer, Wilson is coaching a rising freshman travel team for Orlando Baseball Academy. After Wesleyan won the national title this season, Wilson called up FPC assistant baseball coach Pete Celestino, with whom he has maintained a close relationship over the years, and asked if there were any openings on the Bulldogs’ staff. A few days later Celestino called back to tell him FPC was looking for a new head coach.
Flagler Palm Coast has always been home,” Wilson said. “It’s just awesome to think that I’m the right guy for the team that built me as a player.
— JACE WILSON, New FPC baseball coach
“Flagler Palm Coast has always been home,” Wilson said. “It’s just awesome to think that I’m the right guy for the team that built me as a player.”
Wilson brings versatility to the role. He played outfield and pitched at FPC. He filled in at catcher as a sophomore at Daytona State, throwing right-handed even though he is a natural left-handed thrower. As a reward, the DSC coach at the time, Tim Touma, let Wilson play all nine positions during a seven-inning game.
“Jace understands what it means to wear the Bulldog uniform because he has lived it,” Drabczyk said. “Since graduating from FPC, he has continued to grow as both a player and coach, gaining valuable experience at every level.”
Wilson said he learned a lot from his FPC head coach, Jordan Butler, as well as from Celestino.
“His son was a grade below me,” Wilson said of Celestino. “He came in my sophomore year and has been a mentor to me ever since then.”
Wilson played with Aedan Celestino at FPC and at Daytona State.
The last couple of years he inquired about coaching at FPC. I was thrilled to death he was interested. We talked and the next thing I know we had an opening at head coach. And he got the job.
— PETE CELESTINO, FPC assistant baseball coach
“Whenever Jace came home in summer time I threw batting practice to him,” Pete Celestino said. “The last couple of years he inquired about coaching at FPC. I was thrilled to death he was interested. We talked and the next thing I know we had an opening at head coach. And he got the job.”
Wilson will be the fourth FPC head coach that Celestino has assisted. He has coached the Bulldogs’ JV team the last three years. This year, Wilson wants his mentor to be right next to him in the dugout.
“If I can get my staff right and hire a JV coach, I plan on making Pete my right-hand man,” Wilson said. “He loves the development part of it, but I’d love to have him as my right-hand man on the varsity side.”
Wilson said he is looking to bring in two more assistants. He said he is coaching a talented group of players this summer in Orlando, but he is looking forward to coaching his first varsity team.
“Building a culture is the biggest thing, “Wilson said. “The guys know I’m a first year coach. I’ll be going in everyday with my lunch pale packed, and I’ll work until there’s no more work to be done. If we get guys on board, bought in, playing for each other and playing for what’s on the front of their chest, we can go far.”
Celestino said Wilson “lives and breathes the game.”
“We’ve had discussion over past few years over the possibility of him coming back and coaching here when he was ready, and the time is right now, “Celestino said. “I’m excited it’s a former player here. I hope he coaches for many, many, many years.”
