Mario Sanchez has been appointed technical director and assistant coach by Racing Louisville FC, the club announced Wednesday.
A professional, college and youth coach with more than two decades of experience, Sanchez served as the academy director for the LouCity & Racing Academy for the past four years while assisting the coaching staffs for Louisville City and Racing Louisville’s professional teams. He was Racing’s interim head coach for the conclusion of the club’s inaugural season in 2021.
In his new roles, Sanchez will assist first-year Racing head coach Bev Yanez while also advancing the club’s player identification and recruitment, style of play and academy pathway. He will work closely with both Yanez, general manager Ryan Dell and academy staff to enhance training and development strategies for youth players building toward professional careers.
“I am very thankful to the entire club for the opportunity to continue to grow Racing on and off the field,” Sanchez said. “I have loved my past four years developing the entire academy program. To now have the opportunity to work with Bev and Ryan to help Racing make the next jump is an honor. Bev has a clear vision for the team, and we are well-positioned to make a playoff push.”
“The minute I had the opportunity to share the pitch with Mario, I knew I would jump at any opportunity to work alongside him,” Yanez said. “He is a great person who builds quality relationships with the people around him while pushing them in every aspect to be the best version of themselves. We see the game very similarly and are aligned in how we can provide the best environment possible for the staff, players and club as a whole. I value his experiences and his professional manner. I truly believe we are heading in an immensely positive direction as a club having him on staff working directly with the players.”
Sanchez joins Yanez’s staff at a critical point in Racing’s young history as a pro club. Yanez, 35, spent last year as an assistant coach before her appointment as head coach in November. The former NWSL star has known Sanchez for years, dating back to his time as an assistant coach at the University of Louisville, where Yanez’s husband, Othaniel, played collegiate soccer.
As a coach, Sanchez is known for his expertise in individual development and tactical preparation. The California native played college soccer at Fresno State and three years professionally before joining the Division I college coaching ranks. He was a head coach at UNLV and SIU-Edwardsville while serving as an assistant coach at Louisville, Akron and Fresno State.
Sanchez holds a U.S. Soccer Federation A coaching license with more than 20 years of experience.
“We could not be more excited to add Mario as the first technical director and assistant coach of Racing Louisville,” Dell said. “His experience in professional, collegiate and academy soccer will allow us to formalize development and player pathways. Mario has built tremendous relationships with players, staff and our community in Louisville and he will continue to bring expertise to our technical staff.”
Sanchez has been instrumental in the formation, growth and oversight of the LouCity/Racing Academy, which houses more than 1,500 youth players from the U8 levels through the collegiate level in Louisville and its surrounding area. The Racing Academy competes in the prestigious ECNL, the highest level of girls club soccer in the United States.
In 2022, Racing became the first NWSL club – and remains so – to complete its developmental pyramid by adding a team in the USL W League, the top pre-professional circuit in American women’s soccer. In his role as academy director, Sanchez oversaw Racing’s W League team operations.
As technical director, Sanchez will assist in player recruitment, training strategies and tactical plans to be implemented from the professional level to the academy ranks and continue to build out the entire Racing Louisville player pathway.
Former LouCity star Luke Spencer will fill Sanchez’s role as interim academy director, while Tim Nowak continues as the Racing Academy director.
