By JT Keith Tony Sanchez has come far in life as a former wide receiver for the New Mexico State Aggies. Not because of his career statistics of 54 pass receptions for 741 yards and five touchdowns during the 1994-1995 seasons. But what those playing days led to when he became an undergraduate assistant in […]
By JT Keith
Tony Sanchez has come far in life as a former wide receiver for the New Mexico State Aggies.
Not because of his career statistics of 54 pass receptions for 741 yards and five touchdowns during the 1994-1995 seasons. But what those playing days led to when he became an undergraduate assistant in 1996 and a graduate in 1998.
Spring game
In honor of his success in life, Sanchez, head coach of the New Mexico State Aggies, will bring his team to Artesia’s Bulldog Bowl at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 5, for a spring football game.
Promotion
Sanchez, 51, worked as the NMSU wide receivers coach in the 2022-2023 seasons and was promoted on Dec. 24, 2023, the same day that former head coach Jerry Kill resigned.
Kill left to become chief consultant to Vanderbilt football coach Clark Lea.
As he begins his second season in Conference USA, Sanchez will try to improve on a 3-9 overall and 2-6 conference record.
Sanchez said that after being hired, he had to deal with recruiting for the first and second signing days after the loss of tight ends, running backs and safeties when the transfer portal opened.
Sanchez said he knew the holes that needed to be filled for the 2025 season. He has recruited and stabilized the roster while attacking the name, image and likeness (NIL).
What NIL means is “name, image and likeness” which means a student-athlete can sign NIL deals and are able to enter into contracts to endorse products and make money off their personal brand.
Where it becomes problematic for coaches is, there are no regulations on how much money an athlete can make, or how many products they can endorse. Which in turn can disrupt the competitive balance in college sports by allowing some athletes to gain significant financial advantages. Also, an unregulated NIL market may lead to increased scandals, as athletes could be taken advantage of.
Sanchez said the players he recruited are longer, faster, and stronger, and the team has more depth.
“I think the quarterback spot, which is key, is much better,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez previously coached at UNLV for five seasons (2015-2019) as the head coach, compiling a 20-40 record.
Lifelong relationships
Sanchez said the most attractive thing about being the coach at NMSU is he knows the state well.
Sanchez remembers being the wide receivers coach under Kelly McKee at Onate High School. And every preseason, Onate would scrimmage the Bulldogs in the Bulldog Bowl.
One of his favorite memories as a coach in New Mexico was Onate defeating Goddard 17-14 in the 2002 Class 4A state championship game.
“I met some lifelong friends when I played and coached here,” Sanchez said. “I got the chance to develop my football skills there (NMSU) as a competitor, and I started my coaching career there (NMSU), so I know the state.”
How the spring game came about
Sanchez said he talked with former New Mexico State athletic director Mario Moccia about dates, spring football, and getting out of Las Cruces. He thought about the location’s proximity to Hobbs, Carlsbad, Roswell, Ruidoso and Artesia, and playing at the Bulldog Bowl.
“They (Artesia) have great facilities,” Sanchez said. “I played with many guys, Ty Houghtaling, David Patterson, old Bulldog players. The spring game would be nice to play in the southeastern part of the state that loves football.”
Sanchez said he called Bulldogs coach Jeremy Maupin, who talked to Artesia Superintendent Darian Jaramillo and the Chamber of Commerce.
“Everyone got excited about it,” Sanchez said. “We know how much football is loved there and Artesia’s great history and tradition.”
Sanchez said coming to the Bulldog Bowl and sharing a day and a game with everyone would be good – and good to get “Eyes on the Aggies.”
Coaches Clinic on Friday Night
Before the game on Saturday, the Aggies football team will spend the night at a hotel, which Sanchez said will be good for the economy of Artesia and to teach his team how to travel. He wants his players to get into a routine of how the team will travel in the fall.
The college coaches will host a high school coaches’ clinic on Friday night across the street from the campus at the training facility. He will attend some events by A-Mountain Sports that NMSU is still solidifying. A-Mountain Sports is a collective organized by Aggies fans to promote NIL opportunities for student-athletes at New Mexico State.
Sanchez will also host a meet and greet for Aggies supporters.
Game Day
When fans come to the game on Saturday, it will be a spring game – but not like a regular football game, Sanchez said. The game will have offense versus defense, short yardage, goal-line situations, and special team opportunities. After the game, the players will sign autographs and mingle with the fans.
