Steven Sanchez – Track & Field Coach

Steven Sanchez joined the ACU staff late in the summer of 2024 as the throws coach. While the throws fought through injuries during the season, the throwers still provided key points in both the indoor and outdoor WAC championships. ACU throwers who scored at the conference meets include Sterling Glenn (2nd in the indoor shot put, followed by a 3rd place finish in the outdoor shot put, with a 6th place in the hammer throw; Kailey Roskop (3rd in the weight throw indoors and 3rd in the hammer throw and 4th in the discus outdoors; Sutton Welch (3rd in the men’s weight throw indoors and 2nd in the hammer throw outdoors); Stone Smith (5th in the men’s discus); Avery Myrick (6th in the women’s indoor weight throw), and Rylan Smart (8th in the men’s indoor weight throw).

Sanchez moved to ACU after 4 years of coaching at USC Upstate, located in Spartanburg, SC, where he was the assistant coach for throws and recruiting coordinator. During his time at USC Upstate his throwers won 5 conference championships, finished in the top-three of their event 16 times, and scored in conference events 59 times.

Prior to USC Upstate, Sanchez was at East Tennessee State where he served as the throws/multis coach. During his tenure as the throws coach at ETSU, the Buccaneers won conference championships in the men’s shot put, discus, hammer, weight throw, javelin and heptathlon, as well as the women’s javelin. School records were recorded in the men’s shot put, discus, javelin, weight throw and hammer throw, plus the women’s weight throw. Sanchez also coached ETSU’s Ben Johnson during his run as a 2018 Second Team Division I Indoor Track & Field All-American in the men’s weight throw. 

Before his time at ETSU, Sanchez coached at Division III Plattsburg State University and coached an ECAC Division III qualifier in the women’s shot put and discus in his only season. Sanchez got his start in coaching at Division II King University as a graduate assistant with responsibilities for the throws, combined events, and strength & conditioning.

Collegiately, Sanchez competed for Limestone College from 2012-15 and for ASA College (NY) from 2011-12. While at Limestone, he helped the Saints win the 2013 Conference Carolinas Outdoor Championship. He was named all-conference three times in the shot put. During his senior year, Sanchez was the Conference Carolinas outdoor champion in the shot put and was the Conference Carolinas Scholar-Athlete of the Year for men’s track and field.

Sanchez is certified as a Strength & Conditioning Specialist through the USTFCCCA. He is also certified as a Throwing & Jumping Events Specialist through the USTFCCCA, and as a USATF Level 2 Combined Events & USATF Level 3 Throws Coach.