PLNU Athletics

In his first season as an assistant coach for PLNU Baseball, Steve Sanchez helped lead the Sea Lions to their best season in program history.

The Sea Lions won their first-ever PacWest Conference championship and NCAA Regional title in route to finishing as National Runner-Up at the NCAA Division II World Series. Along the way, the team set program and PacWest records for most wins (51) in a single season, making the deepest postseason run of any PacWest baseball team in history.

Point Loma has made the NCAA West Regional in all four of his seasons on The Point, making two NCAA World Series appearances (2022, 2024). PLNU also won three-straight PacWest titles from 2022-24.

Sanchez joined the Sea Lions after spending the first 14 years of his career at San Diego Mesa College.

Steve was an assistant coach from 2007-2015 and then was named head coach from 2016 to 2021. During his time as head coach, the Olympians made two regional appearances (2018, 2019), one super regional appearance (2019) as well as being named PCAC coach of the year (2019). He was also a professor of kinesiology, health, and exercise science for 12 of his 14 years at Mesa.

In his time as head coach at Mesa, the Olympians transferred over 60 athletes to the 4 year and professional level, and in his total time at Mesa, over 160 athletes transferred to the 4 year and professional level. Additionally, the Olympians produced PCAC player of the year twice in Dillon Haupt (2011) and Koby Lopez (2019).

Steve spent two summers serving as assistant coach for the Willmar Stingers in the Northwoods Collegiate wood bat league. During both seasons, the Stingers received playoff berths and won a division championship his second summer with the team.

Steve played high school baseball at Santa Fe Christian in Solana Beach, CA. He then transferred to San Diego Mesa Community College. He received a scholarship to play at California Baptist University playing under Gary Adcock.

Steve received a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from California Baptist University. He then received a master’s degree and single-subject teaching credential from Azusa Pacific University.   
 
Steve and his wife Holly live in Carlsbad with their two daughters Ellie and Millie.