Ron Sanchez

Ron Sanchez was named Dean and Markel Families Men’s Interim Head Basketball Coach at the University of Virginia on Oct. 18 when three-time National Coach of the Year Tony Bennett retired after 15 seasons.

Sanchez, who is in his 11th season overall  with the UVA men’s basketball program, returned to UVA an associate head coach in June of 2023 after leading Charlotte to a 72-78 record in fives seasons as head coach from 2018-23.

Sanchez served nine seasons on Bennett’s staff from 2009-18, the last three as associate head coach. During his time on Grounds, the Cavaliers won 212 games, three ACC regular-season titles and two ACC Tournament titles while making six appearances in the NCAA Tournament and one NIT appearance. The Cavaliers earned three No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament and won 29 or more games four times. UVA won 31 games and reached No. 1 in the AP rankings for the first time since 1982-83 during Sanchez’ last season at UVA in 2017-18.

Under Sanchez’ leadership at Charlotte, the 49ers won 16 or more games in three seasons, including a 22-14 record in 2022-23. His last season at Charlotte was highlighted by the 49ers’ first-ever postseason tournament title when they won four games in five days in Daytona Beach, Fla., at the 2023 Discount Tire College Basketball Invitational.

Sanchez also served as an assistant coach on Bennett’s staff for three seasons at Washington State from 2006-09, helping the Cougars to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances and one NIT berth. Washington State reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2007 and Sweet 16 in 2008. The Cougars tied the school record with 26 wins in 2006-07 and 2007-08.

He joined the staff at Washington State after spending two years as a volunteer assistant at Indiana. While at Indiana, Sanchez earned his master’s degree in athletic administration/sports management. Indiana advanced to the NCAA Final Four and finished as the national runner-up in 2002.

Sanchez is a 1997 graduate of the State University of New York College of Oneonta where he played basketball. He was named the State University of New York Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 1996. He also earned the Eastern College Athletic Conference Championship Most Valuable Player award that season. In 2019, he was recognized by SUNY Oneonta with the Alumni of Distinction Award.

Sanchez was an assistant coach at SUNY Oneonta in 1998-99 and served as associate head coach at Delhi College (N.Y.) for two years. Delhi posted a 31-2 record in 2000-01, won the Region III championship and finished fourth at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Championship Tournament.

In the summer of 2013, Sanchez served as an assistant coach for the Dominican Republic National Team, which placed fourth at the FIBA Americas Championship and qualified for the 2014 FIBA World Championship for the first time since 1978.

Sanchez and his wife, Tara, have a son, Raelon, and a daughter, Rose Marie.