CMS bids farewell to Keri Sanchez

CLAREMONT, Calif. – After 13 seasons at the helm of the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's soccer team, Keri Sanchez has decided to move on to pursue a coaching opportunity at the University of Texas. During her tenure, the Athenas developed into a perennial contender for the SCIAC title and earned five berths to the NCAA Tournament. At Texas, Sanchez will assist her former teammate from the University of North Carolina, Angela Kelly.

"I owe a huge thank you to the CMS athletic department and Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd and Scripps Colleges for the opportunity to be the head coach of the Athenas," Sanchez said. "This has been a unique and awesome place to work. I have had the opportunity to coach incredible student-athletes that are hardworking, dedicated and committed. I am very excited about the current team, where they are now and their future. I will continue to be their biggest fan."

Within three years after being hired, Sanchez led the Athenas to the program's first SCIAC Tournament title in 2006. The very next year, CMS won the SCIAC regular season. At CMS, Coach Sanchez has amassed an overall record of 148-92-30 and 102-49-15 in SCIAC competition. She is the winningest coach in women's soccer program history.

During her CMS career, the Athenas won three SCIAC regular season titles – 2007, 2009, and 2014 – and five SCIAC Postseason Tournaments – 2006, 2008, 2009, 2013, and 2016. In the NCAA Tournament, CMS has a record of 4-5 and advanced as far as the Sweet 16 in 2008 after wins over Hardin-Simmons and UC Santa Cruz. This past season's win over Pacific Lutheran marked the program's fourth NCAA Tournament win. Sanchez has coached athletes that have earned 58 All-SCIAC, 34 All-Region and 38 Scholar All-Region honors.

"Coach Sanchez epitomizes the kind of leadership we value at CMS for our teams," Athletic Director Terry Tumey said. "Additionally, she has been an amazing contributor to the Claremont community."

We all wish Coach Sanchez the best of luck in her next coaching experience. A national search for the head women's soccer coach position will soon commence.

By Emily Nordhoff
Sports Information Director

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