Bio

Eric Sanchez joined the RCC Tigers football coaching staff prior to the 2023 season, assisting in monitoring all players' academic progress and working with athletic counselors in the academic learning center to ensure the success of all players. He works directly with players to develop successful academic and study skills to build success in the classroom, as well as providing players with opportunities to access campus and community resources, career development, personal enrichment, and mentorship during their careers at RCC.

In 2023, Sanchez was an offensive analyst for the National and State Championship team at RCC, assisting with weekly film breakdowns and recruiting high school student-athletes.

Sanchez brings a wealth of knowledge after holding various football coaching positions. From 2002-05, Sanchez was an assistant football coach for Central Methodist University, primarily coaching the running backs and offensive line.

Since 2006, Sanchez has coached linebackers at Mt. San Jacinto College, running backs at San Bernardino Valley College, and the defensive line at Southwestern College. Between his time at Southwestern and San Bernardino Valley, Sanchez assisted in winning the Mountain Conference three times and won the American Division championship with Southwestern in 2017. His role extended beyond coaching, as he was responsible for coordinating scholarship placement for over 300 student-athletes.

In 2012, Sanchez accepted a position as an academic mentor in the UCLA Athletics Department. His responsibilities included managing the educational program for a group of football players and teaching them essential academic and study skills. He developed academic study plans for each of his student-athletes and worked with athletic counselors to provide interventions to ensure academic success. Sanchez also played a crucial role in developing personal and professional development sessions for the Bruins class of freshman players. He also participated in the campus recognition program as a game day host as part of the UCLA Athletics Department in recognizing members of the campus community for their contributions to UCLA and the world of academia. 

Sanchez has a proven record of developing student-athletes and preparing them for success in the future. His list of successful former student-athletes includes 2013 200m US Champion and World Bronze Medalist Curtis Mitchell, current Houston Texans and former UCLA All-American Award kicker Ka’ Imi Fairbairn (2015 Lou Groza Award), 2017 Harlon Hill Trophy winner Luis Perez (D2 Heisman Trophy), former Arizona Cardinals linebacker Kylie Fitts, and Senior Vice President of Republic Records Devon Libran. Sanchez has guided his former student-athletes into successful careers as doctors, educators, police officers, firefighters, businessmen, and coaches. 

Sanchez holds a B.S. in education from Central Methodist University, an M.A. in education counseling from the University of Redlands, an M.S. in academic advising from Kansas State University, and a graduate certificate in intercollegiate athletics administration from Ole Miss. He is also currently a school counselor at Vista del Lago High School.

Additionally, Sanchez is a professional development speaker for the UCLA Athletics Department, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Riverside County Office of Education, and multiple school districts in California.

Sanchez is married to his wife, Roslyn, and resides in Lake Forest.