Regulating the coordination environment of transition-metal based materials in the axial direction with heteroatoms has shown great potential in boosting the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The coordination configuration and the regulation method are pivotal and elusive. Here, we report a combined strategy of matrix-activization and controlled-induction to modify the CoN site by axial coordination of Co—S (CoN-S), which was validated by the aberration-corrected electron microscopy and X-ray absorption fine structure analysis. The optimal CoN-S exhibits an excellent alkaline ORR activity, according to the half-wave potential (0.897 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE)), Tafel slope (24.67 mV/dec), and kinetic current density. Moreover, the CoN-S based Zn-air battery displays a high power density of 187.55 mW/cm and an outstanding charge—discharge cycling stability for 160 h, demonstrating the promising application potential. Theoretical calculations indicate that the better regulation of CoN on electronic structure and thus the highly efficient ORR performance can be achieved by axial Co—S.