Sodium-ion batteries are a promising next-generation technology for grid-scale energy storage, however, there is a need to increase the capacity and reduce the cost of sodium-ion battery anodes. Coal char is a low cost hard carbon that shows promise as a new anode material for sodium-ion batteries. When coal is heated in an inert atmosphere, it decomposes into volatiles, tar, and char. Char is the major constituent of coal, comprising upwards of 20-85% by mass of many coals. While coal tar pitch has been widely studied and used commercially in lithium-ion battery applications, few works consider the electrochemical energy storage potential of char. This presentation explores two strategies for improving the sodium-ion battery anode performance of coal char: 1) deashing under various acid-base washing conditions, and 2) flash pyrolysis to increase surface area and remove soot. Overall, the combination of flash pyrolysis with ether-based electrolyte yields the best anode capacity, with a tenth cycle discharge capacity of 109 mAh/g at C/2 discharge rate.