(Tempe, AZ) Arizona State University head women’s basketball coach Natasha Adairtoday announced that Yvonne Sanchez, a coach with more than 30 years of experience both as an assistant and head coach, will join Adair’s staff as special assistant to the head coach.
Sanchez is no stranger to ASU as she most recently served as an assistant coach for the Sun Devils during the 2021-22 season.
“I am excited to be back with the Sun Devil women’s basketball program,” Sanchez said. “I look forward to working with Natasha Adair and her incredible staff. Coach A has been a winner everywhere she has been. I can’t wait to start contributing and helping this program and players be the best we all can be.”
“It brings me great joy to welcome Yvonne Sanchez, a pillar in our profession and community, back to Tempe,” Adair said. “Yvonne is no stranger to the sideline or the Pac-12. Her 30-plus years of experience and success will benefit our program immensely. She’s familiar with the landscape and has tremendous ties to the west coast which will bode well for us in recruiting.
“Coach Chez, is a winner, competitor, teacher and motivator with the energy to match. She has an infectious personality and a genuine passion for working with and establishing meaningful relationships with student-athletes. I’m excited to have her join our ASU women’s basketball family.”
Prior to arriving in Tempe, Sanchez spent three seasons as assistant coach at Michigan. While in Ann Arbor, the Wolverines won nearly 70 percent of their games and earned a pair of bids to the NCAA Tournament (like ASU, Michigan would likely have also been an NCAA Tournament participant in 2020 had the postseason not been canceled due to the pandemic). In 2021, the Wolverines earned what at the time was their highest NCAA Tournament seed ever (No. 6) and reached the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history with wins over No. 11 seed Florida Gulf Coast and No. 3 seed Tennessee. Michigan fell just short of its first Elite Eight after being edged by No. 2 seed Baylor in overtime, 78-75.
Sanchez was on staff at the University of New Mexico from 2000-2016, spending the last five seasons of her tenure as head coach. Sanchez amassed 77 victories while leading the Lobo program and was named the 2014-15 Mountain West Coach of the Year after winning a school-record 14 conference games. In her first season as head coach, the Lobos reached the Mountain West Conference championship game. She would duplicate the feat in 2015 when the Lobos went 21-13.
During her time as an assistant coach (2000-08) and associate head coach (2008-11), the Lobos won two Mountain West regular-season titles and five conference tournament crowns and made seven NCAA Tournament appearances. New Mexico won 239 games from 2000-2011, highlighted by the program’s only NCAA Sweet 16 appearance, in 2003.
Prior to her time in Albuquerque, Sanchez served as an assistant coach at New Mexico State (1993-99) and San Diego State (1999-2000). Sanchez’ coaching contributed to New Mexico State capturing the Big West championship in 1995.
Sanchez started her coaching career as the girls’ varsity coach at Our Lady of Peace in San Diego, Calf. In four seasons, Sanchez compiled a record of 76-39. In 1990, Sanchez was named the San Diego County coach of the year after leading her squad to a 24-5 record and Division III CIF and Harbor League championships.
Sanchez graduated with a degree in psychology from U.S. International University in San Diego, where she was a four-year letterwinner. A native New Mexican, Sanchez led Eldorado High School to a state-record 74 consecutive wins and two 4A titles, earning 4A Player of the Year honors by the Albuquerque Journal.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Steve Rodriguez
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