Sanchez was born on Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California, where his father was stationed.

[6] Sanchez began his coaching career in 1996 as an undergraduate assistant at New Mexico State; he would eventually complete his bachelor's degree in family and consumer science at NMSU in 1998.

In 2000, Sanchez became wide receivers coach at Irvin High School in El Paso, Texas.

Sanchez turned around California High "from doormat status to a berth in the North Coast Section finals," according to ESPN.

[5] On December 16, 2014, the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents voted unanimously to hire Sanchez as head coach at UNLV.