LAKE WALES, Fla. – Warner University Women's Basketball head coach Joe Sanchez has announced that he will step down from coaching at Warner.
 
Joe Sanchez has greatly contributed to basketball in the Royals community. He's spent the last four years as a part of the Men's and Women's coaching staff. Serving as an assistant on the Men's Basketball team, Sanchez has aided a team that has won 93 games to date in four seasons. He's also led the Royals Women's Basketball team to 19 wins along with several NAIA leaders. The 2018-19 Royals Women's Basketball team finished with several NAIA DII top 50 rankings. Ranking 37^thin Assist/Turnover Ratio with (0.879), 43^rdin Free Throw Percentage with (0.714), 46^thin Total Steals with (276) including the nations 6^thranked individual in steals per game in DJ Turner averaging a little over 3 steals per game. 
 
Coach Sanchez said, "It has been a privilege to have coached at Warner for the past four seasons. My years as an assistant with the men and head coach of the women's team have been very satisfying and rewarding. I would like to thank the Warner Administration, the Warner community, coach Sean Hanrahan, support staff and players for their support and dedication during my time here. At this time, I believe it's the right decision to make for my family and myself." 
 
Prior to his Warner coaching career, Sanchez previously served as the Head Coach at Indian River State College. Yearly IRSC is ranked them as one of top ten junior college programs in the state of Florida.

Under Sanchez's leadership the Pioneers had two consecutive 20 win seasons of 22-7 and 24-7, including the Southern Conference Tournament Championship in 2012. The Pioneers were ranked repeatedly in the Region 8 top ten coaches poll under Sanchez's direction. Sanchez also taught in the sports management program at IRSC.

Sanchez has earned seven collegiate conferences Coach of the Year honors, including two regional Coach of the Year awards as well as a nomination for National Coach of the Year. Also, Sanchez has led eight teams into the National tournament picture. Sanchez earned a milestone moment with his 500th collegiate victory against Broward College while coaching at Indian River State College.

Sanchez has an extensive history in basketball having the opportunity to coach both men and women in the college setting and boys and girls at the high school level. Also, Sanchez's high school coaching career includes two state championships and seven regional appearances. In addition, Sanchez has received two state Coach of the Year awards. Sanchez has extended his coaching skills on the international setting with his past involvement with Spain's Olympic basketball development program. Sanchez served as Head Women's basketball coach at Wake Forest University where he was named ACC Coach of the Year, Converse Regional Coach of the Year and a national Coach of the Year nomination for his work leading the Demon Deacons to a national ranking and a National Tournament bid. He was the Head Coach at the United States Naval Academy where he led the Midshipmen to the regular season title and was named Patriot League Coach of the Year. Coach Sanchez also held the rank of Associate Professor in the physical education department at the Naval Academy. Before accepting the position at Navy, Sanchez led Nebraska-Kearney to a NCAA National tournament slot and was named the Omaha Herald's Nebraska Coach of the Year.

Sanchez also served as Head Coach of the Women's Basketball Program at the University of Central Florida where he guided the Knights to four consecutive 20 win seasons and four consecutive national rankings and tournament appearances. For his efforts, Sanchez was named Sunshine State Conference Coach of the Year and an All-American Coach by the American Sports Federation.

Sanchez has been a very active speaker throughout his career having the honor to have lectured at the states Coaches Clinics of Florida, Maryland, Nebraska, North Carolina, Alabama and New York.
 
Warner University Athletics would like to thank coach Joe Sanchez for his time served as a Royal and wish him the best on his future endeavors.