Columbia University Athletics

Columbia volleyball head coach Patric Santiago announced, on Thurs., Aug. 11, 2022, the addition of Andrew Sanchez as assistant coach, filling out the first-year coach’s staff ahead of the 2022 season.
 
Sanchez comes to Morningside after spending the previous two seasons (2020-21) as the head coach at SUNY Old Westbury.  Over the two seasons, four student-athletes were named to the SUNY Old Westbury Spring 2021 Athletic Director's Academic Honor Roll, and his leadership helped the program navigate through the cancellation of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a return to competition in the 2021 season.
 
Sanchez arrives on campus with seven years of coaching experience at both the high school and intercollegiate levels after gaining NCAA Division I experience during the 2019 campaign as the volunteer women’s volleyball assistant coach at Stony Brook University. In his role, Sanchez helped facilitate drills and observed pre-game preparations.

Prior to Stony Brook, Sanchez held the assistant men’s volleyball coach title at St. Joseph’s College (L.I.) during the 2019 season. Sanchez helped guide the Golden Eagles to a trip to the NCAA tournament after capturing the Skyline Conference Championship title. The team concluded the season with a 25-7 record and went undefeated in conference play (10-0). They also picked up key victories over nationally ranked opponents Juniata College (No. 14), Arcadia University (No. 13), and New York University (No. 6). 

In 2015, Sanchez served as the head coach at The Academy of Long Island Volleyball Club. In this capacity, Sanchez prepared student-athletes to excel in competitive volleyball and life by offering first-rate teaching, coaching, and mentoring in a positive training environment. 

Sanchez kickstarted his coaching career in 2013 as the head coach of the boys varsity team at his high school alma mater, Smithtown High School West. During the 2016 season, Sanchez led the Bulls to their first-ever Long Island Championship and a New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) runner-up finish. He also led the Bulls to their second county championship appearance in the 2019 campaign.

Sanchez graduated in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in health science from Stony Brook University.