Athletic Director's Corner
Coach Omar Sanchez enters his 4th year as the Director of Athletics for the Panthers of Saint Mary’s College High School. Where in the past three season has led the Panthers to 27 conference titles, 4 NCS Championships, 32 NCS appearances, and four state tournament appearances.
Since coming to Saint Mary’s, Mr. Sanchez has worked on implementing his 5-pillar system which consist of –
- Quality Coaching
- Sports Medicine
- Strength & Condoning
- Sports Nutrition
- Sports Psychology
Prior to Saint Mary’s, Sanchez spent 20 years at Holy Names University where he served in many capacities. Coach Sanchez carried many hats, starting as a strength and conditioning coach followed by being Coach Jones’ top assistant. For 16 years he also served the department as an Associate Director of Athletics overseeing game management, sports information, SAAC advisor, Director of the Experiential Learning Program, overseeing court sports which included men’s and women’s volleyball and women’s basketball, and also assisted the Director of Athletics in day-to-day operations. As a basketball coach and strength and conditioning coach, Coach Sanchez was part of 34 conference championships.
For 12 seasons, he was the head men's coach for Holy Names University. He helped transition the program from competing in the California Pacific Conference (Cal Pac), which was NAIA Div. II to competing in the Pacific West Conference, which is NCAA Div. II. In his first four years of coaching at the NAIA, Coach Sanchez was able to win a Cal Pac tournament Championships and guide his team to the National Tournament in Branson, Missouri. The next four years of provisional status for HNU, coach Sanchez working on establishing a recruiting base for NCAA Div. II. In only his third year of being a full fledge member, Coach Sanchez guided his team to compete in the Pacific West Conference Tournament.
Sanchez spent eight seasons as a top assistant to former head coach and mentor Dennis Jones. Seven years on the men side and one year on the women’s side. While coaching the women, Coach Sanchez was in charge of player development for post, defense schemes, assisted in recruiting, and ran all facets of strength and conditioning programming and implementation. In 2003-04 Sanchez played a vital role helping the Lady Hawks to a 33-4 record, a Cal Pac championship and a trip to the NAIA Div. II National Tournament where they lost in the “Sweet Sixteen” to Evangel University 64-61.
In 2005, Coach Sanchez transitioned to the men’s side with his mentor and was in charge of: assisting in planning practice, player development for guards and bigs, breaking down film and provide scouting reports, planning trips, recruiting, and strength and conditioning programming and implementation.
Coach Sanchez also leads the department’s Master Coaching Program, ensuring ethical coaching and leadership. The program turned into an Experiential Learning Program, where Graduate Assistants were placed in departments throughout campus receiving work experience in the field of their choice. In 12 years, the program grew from 15 graduate assistants to 46, serving over 8 departments on campus.
Sanchez started his intercollegiate career at UC Davis, but after blowing out his ACL and having reconstructive knee surgery, he served as a team manager for the 1997-1998 National Champion UC Davis Aggies. Sanchez transferred the following year to Solano College to pursue his basketball career. There he served as a captain and All Conference player guiding the Falcons to second place finish in the Bay Valley Conference and play-off berth as he averaged 10 points and 9.8 rebounds.
In 2000, Sanchez then finished his career at Holy Names University and helped lead his team as a two years captain and defensive player to one California Pacific Conference Championship, two California Pacific Conference Tournament Championship, and two appearances in the National Tournament, the last time Holy Names has been to the dance prior to the appearance in 2006. In his two years stint with the Hawks, Holy Names was #1 in the country in many defensive categories, a great reason for their success.
As a player for the Hawks, Coach Sanchez was a top defender. He set the tempo defensively for his team and was used as a utility player on the court. His size and strength allowed him to use his versatility and guard the two through the five. Coach Sanchez took pride in getting the team the extra possession by rebounding, winning 50-50 balls, and taking charges.
Coach Sanchez has contributed to the success of the program assisting in winning five conference championships, five conference tournament championships, five national tournament appearances, and one sweet-sixteen.
Sanchez received a BS in Biology from Holy Names University and also completed his Master in Education with an emphasis in physical fitness where he studied the “What is the impact of a year round periodization program on overall confidence and fitness of an intercollegiate college men’s basketball team.”
With his master’s in education degree, certification in sports nutrition, and his CSCS certification, Coach Sanchez also taught the Intro to Strength Training classes at HNU.
Sanchez, a native of Los Angeles, CA, lives in Oakland. Omar is married to a Calgary, Canada native Marinella Sanchez and has two daughters, Mila Eustolia Sanchez and Ella Jolie Sanchez and two dogs Chewbacca and Scooby.