Yvonne Sanchez named @SunDevilWBB assistant coach
TEMPE, Ariz. – Arizona State University head women's basketball coach Charli Turner Thorne today announced that Yvonne Sanchez – a coach with more than 30 years of experience both as an assistant and head coach – will be joining Turner Thorne's staff as assistant coach at ASU.
Sanchez will be coming to Tempe from the University of Michigan where she spent the last three seasons as assistant coach. While in Ann Arbor, the Wolverines won nearly 70 percent of their games and earned a pair of bids to the NCAA Tournament (Michigan would likely have also been a 2020 NCAA Tournament participant had the postseason not been canceled due to the pandemic). In 2021, the Wolverines earned their highest NCAA Tournament seed ever (No. 6) and reached the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history with wins over No. 11 seed Florida Gulf Coast and No. 3 seed Tennessee. Michigan fell just short of its first Elite Eight after being edged by No. 2 seed Baylor in overtime, 78-75.
"I have known Charli for a long time and I have always wanted to work for her and learn from her," said Sanchez, who helped recruit a pair of Top 15 classes in her three years at Michigan. "Charli has built ASU into a national power and I'm excited to help her program compete for Pac-12 and national championships on an annual basis. I'm honored to join the terrific staff she has assembled and excited to be a part of the program."
"We are so excited that Yvonne will be joining our Sun Devil Family," said Turner Thorne. "With over 30 years of coaching experience, she not only brings a wealth of knowledge but also an unbridled passion for the game and for mentoring young women. Our players and our Sun Devil nation are going to love her boundless positive energy combined with her competitive spirit. She is truly a transformative coach that will help us all learn and grow."
Sanchez was on staff at the University of New Mexico from 2000-2016, spending the last five seasons of her tenure as head coach. She amassed 77 victories as head coach and was named the 2014-15 Mountain West Coach of the Year after winning a school-record 14 conference games. In her first season as head coach, the Lobos reached the Mountain West Conference championship game. She would duplicate the feat in 2015 when the Lobos went 21-13.
During her time as an assistant coach (2000-08) and associate head coach (2008-11), the Lobos won two Mountain West regular-season titles and five conference tournament crowns and made seven NCAA Tournament appearances. New Mexico won 239 games from 2000-2011, highlighted by the program's only NCAA Sweet 16 appearance, in 2003.
Prior to her time in Albuquerque, Sanchez served as an assistant coach at New Mexico State (1993-99) and San Diego State (1999-2000). Sanchez' coaching contributed to New Mexico State capturing the Big West championship in 1995.
Sanchez started her coaching career as the girls' varsity coach at Our Lady of Peace in San Diego, Calf. In four seasons, Sanchez compiled a record of 76-39. In 1990, Sanchez was named the San Diego County coach of the year after leading her squad to a 24-5 record and Division III CIF and Harbor League championships.
Sanchez graduated with a degree in psychology from U.S. International University in San Diego, where she was a four-year letterwinner. A native New Mexican, Sanchez led Eldorado High School to a state-record 74 consecutive wins and two 4A titles, earning 4A Player of the Year honors by the Albuquerque Journal.