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Tony Sanchez (American football)

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Tony Sanchez
Sanchez at 2016 Mountain West Media Days
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamNew Mexico State
ConferenceC-USA
Record3–9
Biographical details
Born (1974-01-25) January 25, 1974 (age 50)
Fairfield, California, U.S.
Playing career
1992–1993Laney
1994–1995New Mexico State
Position(s)Wide receiver
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1996New Mexico State (SA)
1998Onate HS (NM) (WR)
2000Irvin HS (TX) (WR)
2001–2002Onate HS (NM) (DB)
2003Onate HS (NM) (DC/DB)
2004–2008California HS (CA)
2009–2014Bishop Gorman HS (NV)
2015–2019UNLV
2021TCU (OA)
2022–2023New Mexico State (WR)
2024–presentNew Mexico State
Head coaching record
Overall23–49 (college)
120–26 (high school)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
6 Nevada 4A state (high school)
Awards
USA Today Coach of the Year (2014)

Anthony Phillip Sanchez (born January 25, 1974)[1] is an American college football coach and former wide receiver, who is the current head football coach at New Mexico State University, his alma mater. He was the head football coach at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) from 2014 to 2019.[2][3] Before that, he was the head football coach at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas.

Early life and college playing career

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Sanchez was born on Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California, where his father was stationed.[4] Sanchez graduated from Granada High School in Livermore, California in 1992 and began his college football career as a wide receiver at Laney College, a junior college in nearby Oakland. In 1994, Sanchez transferred to New Mexico State University, where he played two seasons with the New Mexico State Aggies.[5] Sanchez made 54 receptions for 741 yards and 5 touchdowns in his two seasons at NMSU.[6]

Coaching career

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Sanchez began his coaching career in 1996 as an undergraduate assistant at New Mexico State; he would eventually complete his bachelor's degree in family and consumer science at NMSU in 1998.[5] After graduating from NMSU, Sanchez spent the 1998 season as wide receivers coach at Onate High School, like NMSU in Las Cruces, New Mexico. In 2000, Sanchez became wide receivers coach at Irvin High School in El Paso, Texas. Sanchez returned to Onate High in 2001 to be defensive backs coach. In 2003, Sanchez was promoted to be defensive coordinator in addition to defensive backs coach at the school.[5]

In 2004, Sanchez got his first head coaching position at California High School in San Ramon, California. Sanchez turned around California High "from doormat status to a berth in the North Coast Section finals," according to ESPN.[7]

Sanchez became head coach at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2009 and would be head coach at the school for six seasons. In his tenure as Gorman head coach, Sanchez achieved an 85–5 record and led Gorman to the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association 4A championship every season.[5]

On December 16, 2014, the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents voted unanimously to hire Sanchez as head coach at UNLV. He was succeeded at Bishop Gorman by his brother, Kenneth.[8]

Sanchez and UNLV agreed to part ways on November 25, 2019. He coached his final game for the Rebels against Nevada on November 30. He finished with a career record of 20–40.

Sanchez joined the staff at TCU as an offensive analyst in 2021.[9] New head coach Jerry Kill, who had been on the staff with Sanchez at TCU, hired him as wide receivers coach at New Mexico State in 2022.[10] Sanchez succeeded Kill as head coach following the 2023 season.[11]

Personal life

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Sanchez is of Puerto Rican and English descent.[7] He is divorced and has two children.[5] The National Catholic Register describes Sanchez as a "devout Catholic".[12]

Head coaching record

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High school

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
California Grizzlies (East Bay Athletic League) (2004–2008)
2004 California[13] 4–6 2–4 5th
2005 California[14] 8–3 4–2 T–2nd L CIF North Coast Section First Round
2006 California[15] 5–5 2–4 5th
2007 California[16] 11–2 5–1 T–1st L CIF North Coast Section Finals
2008 California[17] 7–5 4–3 4th
California: 35–21 17–14
Bishop Gorman Gaels (Sunset 4A Region) (2009–2014)
2009 Bishop Gorman 15–0 8–0 1st (Southwest) W NIAA 4A Championship
2010 Bishop Gorman 13–2 8–0 1st (Southwest) W NIAA 4A Championship
2011 Bishop Gorman 16–0 7–0 1st (Southwest) W NIAA 4A Championship
2012 Bishop Gorman 13–1 5–0 1st (Southwest) W NIAA 4A Championship
2013 Bishop Gorman 13–2 5–0 1st (Southwest) W NIAA 4A Championship
2014 Bishop Gorman 15–0 4–0 1st (Southwest) W NIAA 4A Championship
Bishop Gorman: 85–5 37–0
Total: 120–26
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

College

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
UNLV Rebels (Mountain West Conference) (2015–2019)
2015 UNLV 3–9 2–6 T–4th (West)
2016 UNLV 4–8 3–5 T–3rd (West)
2017 UNLV 5–7 4–4 3rd (West)
2018 UNLV 4–8 2–6 5th (West)
2019 UNLV 4–8 2–6 T–4th (West)
UNLV: 20–40 13–27
New Mexico State Aggies (Conference USA) (2024–present)
2024 New Mexico State 3–9 2–6 T–8th
New Mexico State: 3–9 2–6
Total: 23–49

References

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  1. ^ "Bishop Gorman High School – Football Coaches – Tony Sanchez". Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  2. ^ Evans, Thayer (December 6, 2014). "UNLV finalizing agreement to hire Bishop Gorman High's Tony Sanchez". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  3. ^ "UNLV Coach Tony Sanchez Out After 5 Seasons". Sports Illustrated. Associated Press. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  4. ^ Dodd, Dennis (March 11, 2015). "Connected and confident, Tony Sanchez is ready to run wild at UNLV". CBS Sports. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Tony Sanchez". UNLV Rebels. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  6. ^ "Tony Sanchez College Stats". Sports Reference. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  7. ^ a b Sherman, Mitch (October 4, 2013). "Sanchez sets bar at Bishop Gorman". ESPN. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  8. ^ Anderson, Mark (December 17, 2014). "Regents unanimously approve Sanchez as UNLV football coach". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  9. ^ Davison, Drew (April 30, 2021). "Former UNLV football coach to join TCU as volunteer assistant". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  10. ^ Groves, Jason (January 11, 2022). "Tony Sanchez returns to Las Cruces, where his coaching career started". Las Cruces Sun-News. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  11. ^ Thamel, Pete (December 23, 2023). "Kill steps down, Sanchez named HC at NMSU". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  12. ^ Kudialis, Chris (December 22, 2014). "On Faith and Football: A Conversation With UNLV Coach Tony Sanchez". National Catholic Register. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  13. ^ "Schedule – California Grizzlies 2004 Football (San Ramon, CA)". MaxPreps. CBS Interactive. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  14. ^ "Schedule – California Grizzlies 2005 Football (San Ramon, CA)". MaxPreps. CBS Interactive. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  15. ^ "Schedule – California Grizzlies 2006 Football (San Ramon, CA)". MaxPreps. CBS Interactive. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  16. ^ "Schedule – California Grizzlies 2007 Football (San Ramon, CA)". MaxPreps. CBS Interactive. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  17. ^ "Schedule – California Grizzlies 2008 Football (San Ramon, CA)". MaxPreps. CBS Interactive. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
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