Jeffry Scott / Arizona Daily Star

Sunnyside coach Richard Sanchez, above supervising a Blue Devils practice, says his success can be attributed to surrounding "myself with good people, and I've learned from every single one of them."

Sanchez still enjoys the challenge of coaching

By Chris Davis
ARIZONA DAILY STAR

Nearly five months after Sunnyside played its final down in the 1992 football season, the school's head coaching position still remained vacant.

After a 4-6 campaign, not many coaches saw any potential in the program.

Meanwhile, Richard Sanchez had just led the Blue Devils varsity wrestling program to its fourth consecutive state championship since 1990.

Two programs: one dominant, one dormant. One had stability, the other was a ship taking on water.

Then came a change early in 1993.

"Here we are a week before spring ball and there are no takers for the job," Sanchez recalled. "I asked Coach (Terry) Seward what he thought, and I said I thought we could win (a state championship) in five years."

Seward's response was equally as positive.

"I said to Rich, 'You're very organized. You're a hard worker, and if we put the right staff together, we can do it.' "

Both were wrong, but not by much.

It took Sunnyside seven years to reach the state championship game - and eight to win it.

Almost 12 seasons since he was hired as coach, the wins have piled up for Sanchez - 99 to be exact.

Another victory tonight at home against Marana will give Sanchez the 100th victory of his standout career.

For most coaches, this would be a milestone.

But collecting wins has never been Sanchez's focus. Excellence is what he and his teams seek.

"Until it was brought up, I wouldn't have known," Sanchez said about his 100th victory.

"Our kids used to think 7-3 was a good record, and it took us a while to convince them that wasn't acceptable. So, I'd be a hypocrite to be counting how many wins I have."

Heading into his first season as Sunnyside's football coach, Sanchez's gridiron coaching résumé boasted three years of experience at the freshman level.

But coaching football was more than just a pipe dream for Sanchez.

"It was a challenge," he said. "Football is a tremendous challenge. But I like challenges and our coaching staff enjoys challenges. That helps."

It also has turned out to be a smart move.

With the exception of three seasons below .500, Sanchez's teams have won at least seven games in each year of his tenure.

Since 1999, the Blue Devils have lost seven times in 73 games.

Most people are aware of the work ethic and energy that Sanchez injected into the program.

A normal weekend for Sunnyside's coaching staff includes 20 hours of analyzing game film and preparing for opponents. That is a small part of the work the coaches do.

"I don't do it as much anymore, but when we needed it, I used to demonstrate tackling," Sanchez said. "I used to come out with swollen arms and hands. I'd have cuts on my nose from hitting kids that had helmets on."

That passion has led to many players returning as assistants after their playing careers.

Victor Cunes, Zac Seward, Alex Samorano, Marco Valente and Glenn Posey all played for Sanchez, as did Dale Perkins and Jamie Ferguson.

Terry Seward, who has worked with Sanchez since 1980 and is now the team's defensive coordinator, says it's a personality trait.

"He worked to a point where hours weren't a factor to him," Seward said of Sanchez's days as the freshman football coach. "When the varsity team would practice late, he'd always be on the field looking to learn more. Not too many freshman coaches have that drive."

But if you ask Sanchez, he scoffs at the notion that the program's success is due in part to his ability as a coach.

He credits his players, the high school and central administration, and of course, his assistants.

Sunnyside grads have taken over fund-raising for the program - a major reason Sanchez says Blue Devils football has been able to compete for the state championship in most years.

"It's not what I've done," Sanchez said. "I surround myself with good people, and I've learned from every single one of them."