Bishop Gorman announces new football coach

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Published Tuesday, March 10, 2009 | 11:41 a.m.

Updated Tuesday, March 10, 2009 | 12:40 p.m.

Tony Sanchez took one step on Bishop Gorman High's campus and knew he had found a home.

He was at the Summerlin Catholic school to interview for its head football coaching position and just needed one tour through its 36-acre, multi-million dollar campus to be sold.

"I was absolutely floored when I walked in," Sanchez, 35, said. "Those facilities are second to none. The stadium, weight room, coach's office and classrooms are state of the art. It was a huge, huge push what Gorman is able to provide for its kids."

Three weeks later, it became official: Sanchez is the Gaels' new football coach.

The school, through an e-mail to parents by principal Aggie Evert, announced Sanchez's hiring.

Sanchez, who spent the past five years at California High in San Ramon, Calif., replaces Bob Altshuler. Altshuler was let go in late January after going 26-2 in two years and winning the 2007 state title.

Sanchez, who will begin work in early April, will also be an assistant dean at the school.

"He had that sort of inner self that we really felt was necessary at Gorman for leadership and coaching by example," Gorman Athletic Director Peter Weinburgh said. "He is a good person and leader. Everyone I talked to and everyone I called was unanimous with that. We think he can take us to the next level."

Sanchez is a proven winner.

He coached Cal High to the competitive East Bay Athletic League title and an 11-2 record in 2007. The team finished second in the North Coast Section Division I, losing to national power De La Salle High in the sectional finals at the Oakland Coliseum.

Sanchez was named the Oakland Raiders high school coach of the year following the run. Cal High went 7-5 in 2008.

Cal had two winning seasons prior to his arrival.

"The program at Cal High didn't have much success until we got here," Sanchez said. "We had to start from scratch with the nuts and bolts. Our whole thing was paying attention to detail. You have to do the little things right before you can do the big things. That is what we will do at Gorman."

Sanchez is a 1992 graduate of Granada High in Livermore, Calif., where he was an all-state defensive back. The school retired his No. 81 jersey.

He played two years at New Mexico State, where he was later an undergraduate assistant coach.

He was an assistant at Irvin High in El Paso, Texas, and at Onate High in Las Cruces, N.M., when it won the state championship in 2002.

Now, he inherits a team at Gorman that advanced to the Sunset Regional championship game last fall. The Gaels have at least four Division I prospects returning, including linebacker Evan Palelei and defensive end Alex Turner. Both have multiple offers from top-tier college programs.

Sanchez will be in Las Vegas Wednesday to meet the team.

"I'm excited to meet the kids and start working together," Sanchez said.

Weinburgh said he received 18 applications for the position and conducted 10 first interviews. The final five candidates were brought in for another interview.

"What is satisfying is that the people who sought (this job) were of high caliber," Weinburgh said. "We had some top notch candidates. But it was not a hard decision. Tony was a great candidate. He stood out."

Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or ray.brewer@hbcpub.com.