Yvonne Sanchez Hometown: Albuquerque, N.M. Position: Head Coach Experience: 2nd Season Alma Mater: U.S. International '89

Yvonne Sanchez enters her second season at the helm of the University of New Mexico women's basketball program. Her inaugural season as head coach saw the Lobos make history despite a roster that was decimated by injuries.

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The 2011-12 season was a season of firsts for Coach Sanchez and company. Despite finishing the regular season with a 9-19 record overall, the Lobos would never surrender. They turned the 2012 Mountain West Conference Tournament upside down advancing all the way to the championship game as the tournament's seventh seed. Their run through the conference's postseason tournament saw UNM become the first-ever seventh seed to beat a second seeded team. They also became the first-ever seventh seeded team to advance to the championship game of the conference tournament.

Along the way, Coach Sanchez's players picked up the first individual awards of the Yvonne Sanchez era. Caroline Durbin was named First Team All-Mountain West. She also became the first Capital One Academic All-American First Team member in program history. Porsche Torrance garnered Third Team All-Conference honors while being named Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year. The 2011-12 New Mexico Lobos also finished tenth in the country in attendance. That ranking was first in the Mountain West and among all non-BCS conference teams.

Yvonne Sanchez was named the fifth head women's basketball coach in UNM history on April 22, 2011. The long-time assistant coach under previous head coach Don Flanagan was selected after a national candidate search. Sanchez had spent eleven seasons, including three as associate head coach, along side Coach Flanagan as he became the winningest coach in program history.

"After conducting a national search, we realized that the best candidate was right here at the University of New Mexico," said Paul Krebs, vice president of athletics. "Yvonne is passionate about Lobo basketball, she brings great energy, and is an outstanding recruiter. Her reputation within the coaching community is outstanding, and she is the right person to lead this program into the future."

Sanchez joined the Lobo staff in 2000 and immediately saw the program surge to new heights, winning 20 games in each of her nine seasons as an assistant coach. In her first year, 2000-01, the Lobos advanced to the championship game of the WNIT before advancing to seven consecutive NCAA Tournaments, winning two regular season Mountain West titles and five MW tournament championships. With Sanchez on the Lobo sidelines, she helped build UNM's reputation for defending The Pit, going 155-44 in eleven years, a .779 winning percentage. The Lobos won double-digit home games in ten of her elevens seasons as assistant and associate head coach, including a three-year stretch where the Lobos were a stellar 45-5.

Over eleven seasons as an assistant at New Mexico, Sanchez has also helped coach seven First Team All-MWC performers, ten Second-Team members, and nine Third-Team members. Also in that time, the Lobos had six players earn honorable mention honors, three earn All-Defense and two players earned Mountain West Newcomer of the Year honors.

In addition the Lobos earned 33 MWC Player of the Week awards, 82 Mountain West All-Academic selections, six Academic All-District selections, one Academic All-American, and one Kodak All-American. Five times the Lobos were recognized by the WBCA for ranking in the Top 25 nationally in team grade point average, and twice the team finished the season in the national top 25 polls as well during Sanchez's eleven years on Don Flanagan's staff.

"I am thrilled to be the next head coach at the University of New Mexico," said Sanchez. "Coach Flanagan has been such a mentor and positive influence in my life, and has prepared me for this opportunity. Being a native New Mexican, the passion and pride I have for this university and athletic department is tremendous. I am honored and humbled to take over a program of such success and tradition, and I am ready to lead it back to one of the best teams in the Mountain West Conference."

Coach Sanchez's coaching career spans 18 years. In the time before her eleven seasons in Albuquerque, her career includes stops as an assistant coach at San Diego State (1999-2000) and New Mexico State (1993-1999). Sanchez got her coaching start in 1989 at Academy of Our Lady of Peace, a high school in San Diego. She led the squad to CIF championships in 1990 and 1992, and was named the 1990 San Diego prep coach of the year, despite not having an indoor facility. During her tenure at OLP, the Pilots compiled a 76-39 (.661) record.

The 44-year old Sanchez is a 1989 graduate of U.S. International University in San Diego, where she was a four-year letter winner. She received her bachelor's degree in Psychology. The Albuquerque native was a three-year starter under Don Flanagan at Eldorado High School from 1982-85, during which time the Eagles won a state-record 74 consecutive games and two 4A state titles. She was twice named to the all-state team and was also tabbed as the state 4A Player of the Year by the Albuquerque Journal.

What They Are Saying About Yvonne Sanchez
Tara VanDerveer, head women's basketball coach, Stanford Cardinal
"I'm really excited for Yvonne, this is a great opportunity for her. There is no one that will work harder and no one who loves the University of New Mexico more than her. I think that there is no one that is a better representative of the university. If you are a player, you want to play for her, as she is upbeat and full of energy. She has had great experience working under Don, and New Mexico has great tradition and she will continue it."

Kelly Graves, head women's basketball coach, Gonzaga Bulldogs, former UNM player (UNM '88)
"I am so happy for Yvonne and UNM that she is the head coach. I have been an admirer and friend of Yvonne for a long time and am confident she'll do a tremendous job there. There is no question in my mind that Yvonne will continue the great tradition that is Lobo Basketball. She is a tireless worker with the kind of personality that will attract recruits and support into the Lobo program. As a UNM alum, I'm also proud that someone of Yvonne's character and vision will be leading that program. Yvonne exemplifies everything that is good about intercollegiate athletics"

Steve Alford, head men's basketball coach, New Mexico Lobos
"I'm very excited about Yvonne getting this opportunity. She has worked very hard for Lobo basketball and is very deserving of this opportunity and I think she will do a terrific job."

Charli Turner Thorne, head women's basketball coach, Arizona State
"Yvonne Sanchez is more prepared to move the University of New Mexico Women's Basketball program forward than any Coach in the country. She is one of the hardest working, personable and talented coaches around, and she is a Lobo through and through."

Debbie Antonelli, ESPN/Westwood One women's basketball analyst
"Yvonne Sanchez has worked every job in basketball except the job that required an 18-inch seat change. She has studied, recruited and marketed the UNM basketball program with passion and patience as she prepared for an opportunity to be Head Coach. Her work ethic and desire to provide the total student athlete experience will make `The Pit' a better place for fans and tougher for opponents. Yvonne's integrity and resourcefulness will allow New Mexico basketball to return to the dominant power in the Mountain West."

Sherri Coale, head women's basketball coach, Oklahoma Sooners
"Yvonne Sanchez is one of the hardest working coaches in our game. She's also one of the most invested. I've had the privilege of working with her on various committees and boards through the WBCA, and her commitment to both our game and young people is extraordinary. Yvonne is known across the country as a tireless, energetic recruiter. Now that same energy and passion will undoubtedly be breathed into every aspect of the New Mexico program."

Lobos Women's Basketball

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