Place of birth United States 1998–1999 Orange County Zodiac Position Midfielder Years Team Height 1.73 m | 1993–1997 Fresno State Bulldogs Role Soccer player Playing position Name Mario Sanchez | |
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1996–1997 Central Coast Roadrunners Education California State University, Fresno, Etiwanda High School | ||
Mario Sanchez is a retired American soccer midfielder who is the head coach of the SIU Edwardsville Cougars men's soccer team. He played professionally in the USISL and USL A-League, winning the 1996 and 1997 USISL championship with the Central Coast Roadrunners.
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Youth
Sanchez graduated from Etiwanda High School in 1993. He played soccer for the Alta Loma Soccer Club which won the 1992 U-17 National Championship. He attended the California State University, Fresno, playing on the men's soccer team from 1993 to 1997. In August 1996, he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in practice and lost the season. He returned in 1997 for his senior season and graduated in 1999 with a bachelor's degree in business administration.
Professional
In 1996 and 1997, Sanchez spent the collegiate off-season with the Central Coast Roadrunners of the USISL. Sanchez and his team mates won the USISL championship both seasons. In February 1, 1998, the Kansas City Wizards selected Sanchez in the third round (thirty-second overall) of the 1998 MLS College Draft. The Wizards released him in the pre-season and he signed with the Orange County Zodiac of the USL A-League. Sanchez began the 1999 season with the Zodiac, but left in July when Fresno State hired him as an assistant coach. In 2001, he returned to playing with the Stanislaus County Cruisers.
Personal
Sanchez earned a bachelor's in business administration from Fresno State.
He holds a U.S. Soccer Federation 'A' License.
Sanchez is married to the former Shana Stickel. The couple has four children: sons Sebastian and Santiago, and daughters Ella and Emme. He had a dog named scooby.
Coach
In June 1999, Northwood High School hired Sanchez to coach its boys’ soccer team. He resigned two months later to become an assistant coach with the Fresno State Bulldogs men’s soccer team. Fresno State dropped its men’s soccer program after the 2003 season and Sanchez moved to the Akron Zips. In 2006, UNLV hired Sanchez as head coach of the men’s soccer program. Following UNLV's first winning season in eight years, Sanchez resigned on February 5, 2010, moving to the Louisville Cardinals, where he was an assistant coach and associate head coach 2011–2015.
Following a nationwide search, on January 27, 2015 Sanchez was named the head coach of the SIU Edwardsville Cougars men's soccer team.