Mario Sanchez (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Mario Sanchez is a retired American soccer forward
who is an assistant coach with the Louisville Cardinals
men’s soccer team. He played professionally in the USISL and USL A-League, winning the 1996 and 1997 USISL championship with the Central Coast Roadrunners
.
in 1993. He played soccer for the Alta Loma Soccer Club which won the 1992 U-17 National Championship. He attended the California State University, Fresno
, playing on the men's soccer team from 1993 to 1997. In August 1996, he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in practice and lost the season. He returned in 1997 for his senior season and graduated in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
of the USISL. Sanchez and his team mates won the USISL championship both seasons. In February 1, 1998, the Kansas City Wizards
selected Sanchez in the third round (thirty-second overall) of the 1998 MLS College Draft
. The Wizards released him in the pre-season and he signed with the Orange County Zodiac of the USL A-League. Sanchez began the 1999 season with the Zodiac, but left in July when Fresno State hired him as an assistant coach. In 2001, he returned to playing with the Stanislaus County Cruisers
.
men’s soccer team. Fresno State dropped its men’s soccer program after the 2003 season and Sanchez moved to the Akron Zips
. In 2006, UNLV hired Sanchez as head coach of the men’s soccer program. On February 5, 2010, Sanchez moved to the Louisville Cardinals
where he is an assistant coach.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
who is an assistant coach with the Louisville Cardinals
Louisville Cardinals
The Louisville Cardinals are the athletic teams representing the University of Louisville. A member of the Big East Conference since 2005, they are known nationally as traditional powers in men's basketball, women's volleyball, and dance team...
men’s soccer team. He played professionally in the USISL and USL A-League, winning the 1996 and 1997 USISL championship with the Central Coast Roadrunners
Central Coast Roadrunners
Central Coast Roadrunners were an American soccer team, founded in 1996. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2002, after which the team left the league and the franchise rights were transferred to the...
.
Youth
Sanchez graduated from Etiwanda High SchoolEtiwanda High School
Etiwanda High School is a public secondary school in Rancho Cucamonga, California. It is one of the eleven schools of the Chaffey Joint Union High School District.-History:Etiwanda High School is one of the oldest schools in the district...
in 1993. He played soccer for the Alta Loma Soccer Club which won the 1992 U-17 National Championship. He attended the California State University, Fresno
California State University, Fresno
California State University, Fresno, often referred to as Fresno State University and synonymously known in athletics as Fresno State , is one of the leading campuses of the California State University system, located at the northeast edge of Fresno, California, USA.The campus sits at the foot of...
, playing on the men's soccer team from 1993 to 1997. In August 1996, he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in practice and lost the season. He returned in 1997 for his senior season and graduated in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Professional
In 1996 and 1997, Sanchez spent the collegiate off-season with the Central Coast RoadrunnersCentral Coast Roadrunners
Central Coast Roadrunners were an American soccer team, founded in 1996. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2002, after which the team left the league and the franchise rights were transferred to the...
of the USISL. Sanchez and his team mates won the USISL championship both seasons. In February 1, 1998, the Kansas City Wizards
Kansas City Wizards
Sporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
selected Sanchez in the third round (thirty-second overall) of the 1998 MLS College Draft
1998 MLS College Draft
The 1998 Major League Soccer College Draft was held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on January 31 and February 1, 1998.-Format:On Saturday, January 31, 1997, Major League Soccer held the first round of its 1998 college draft during the halftime of the Umbro Select All-Star Classic at Lockhart Stadium. ...
. The Wizards released him in the pre-season and he signed with the Orange County Zodiac of the USL A-League. Sanchez began the 1999 season with the Zodiac, but left in July when Fresno State hired him as an assistant coach. In 2001, he returned to playing with the Stanislaus County Cruisers
Stanislaus County Cruisers
The Stanislaus County Cruisers were an American soccer team that played in Modesto, California. They were known as the Stanislaus United Cruisers in 2000-01.-Year-by-year:-1999-2000 Roster: Roster: #1 Brett Weaver GK #2 Abel Vera GK...
.
Coach
In June 1999, Northwood High School hired Sanchez to coach its boys’ soccer team. He resigned two months later to become an assistant coach with the Fresno State BulldogsFresno State Bulldogs
The Fresno State Bulldogs represent California State University, Fresno in 19 NCAA Division I sports. The teams have been members of the Western Athletic Conference since 1992. Before that, it had been a member of the Big West Conference since 1969...
men’s soccer team. Fresno State dropped its men’s soccer program after the 2003 season and Sanchez moved to the Akron Zips
Akron Zips
One of the unique nicknames in all of intercollegiate athletics belongs to The University of Akron. Originally Zippers, athletic director Kenneth Cochrane officially shortened the nickname to the Zips in 1950. Twenty-five years earlier a campus-wide contest had been conducted to choose a nickname...
. In 2006, UNLV hired Sanchez as head coach of the men’s soccer program. On February 5, 2010, Sanchez moved to the Louisville Cardinals
Louisville Cardinals
The Louisville Cardinals are the athletic teams representing the University of Louisville. A member of the Big East Conference since 2005, they are known nationally as traditional powers in men's basketball, women's volleyball, and dance team...
where he is an assistant coach.