Sanchez returns to alma mater to coach wide receivers

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - A familiar face will be in charge of NM State's wide receivers group.

Tony Sanchez, who played and coached for NM State in the mid-1990s, returns to his alma mater to serve as the Aggies' wide receivers coach it was announced by head coach Jerry Kill.

Sanchez returns to the Land of Enchantment following a 2021 campaign in which he, Kill and a multitude of other member of the Aggies' coaching staff were at TCU in Fort Worth, Texas. There, Sanchez was an offensive analyst for the Horned Frogs and helped them pick up one victory over a nationally-ranked foe (#12 Baylor) through the team's 2021 campaign.

Prior to his time at TCU, Sanchez had a five-year run (2015-19) as the head coach at Mountain West institution UNLV. In Las Vegas, Sanchez totaled 20 wins at the helm of UNLV while also taking part in numerous fundraising efforts which led to the construction of the $34 million Fertitta Football Complex.

It was Sanchez's high-level success rate at the prep level that turned the most heads and allowed him to secure a head coaching job at the FBS level. Upon exiting the borderland following the 2003 season, Sanchez was installed as the head coach at California High School in Ramon, Calif., and began an 11-year run as one of the nation's best high school head coaches.

From 2004-08, Sanchez amassed 35 wins as California High School's head coach. Finishing at or above the .500 mark in all but one campaign, Sanchez successfully transformed the Fighting Grizzlies from a less-than-mediocre program to one that was a power in the East Bay Athletic League. Sanchez's best team at CHS was the 2007 edition which went 11-2, claimed an East Bay Athletic League championship and made a run to the CIF North Coast Section Finals.

Taking notice of Sanchez's success in the Golden State, Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nev., came calling and hired Sanchez as its head football coach prior to the start of the 2009 season. What followed over a span of six season was nothing short of complete and total domination by Sanchez and his troops.

Bishop Gorman piled up an 85-5 record during Sanchez's tenure which ran from 2009-14. Ranked as the top prep football program in the nation by such publications as USA Today and MaxPreps.com, Bishop Gorman never failed to capture the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) 4A state title in each of Sanchez's six seasons at the helm of the program. In 2014, Sanchez was named the USA Today High School Football Coach of the Year.

Sanchez spent a total of four seasons on staff at Oñate High School (now Organ Mountain High School) in Las Cruces, N.M. A wide receivers coach at that prep institution in 1998, he moved over to defensive backs coach in 2001 and 2002 before being named the defensive coordinator for the 2003 season. Irvin High School in El Paso, Texas, also employed Sanchez as its wide receivers coach in 2000.

Through his two-year tenure in an NM State uniform, Sanchez racked up 54 receptions for 741 yards and five touchdowns. Upon the conclusion of his collegiate career in the 1995 season, Sanchez served as an undergraduate assistant coach for the Aggies for their 1996 campaign.

A 1998 graduate of NM State, Sanchez possesses a bachelor's degree in family and consumer science. Five years later (2003), he secured a master's degree in special education. He is the father of a daughter, Alyssa, and a son, Jason.

For complete coverage of NM State football as the Aggies gear up for year one under coach Kill and staff in 2022, visit NMStateSports.com - the official home of Aggie athletics - and follow the Aggies on Facebook (NM State Football), Twitter (@NMStateFootball) and Instagram (@NMStateFootball).