The Sanders File
Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif.
Alma Mater (Year): San Diego State (2006) | New Mexico State (2019)
Degree: Political Science (bachelor's) | Education (master's)
Coaching Experience:
2024-present: Assistant Coach, Green Bay
2022-2024: Assistant Coach, Kansas City
2021-22: Assistant Coach, Southern Utah
2017-19: Director of Player Personnel, UNLV
2013-17: Assistant Coach, New Mexico State
2012-13: Assistant Coach, Montana State
Playing Experience:
2011: Academica Coimbra
2009-2010: SPO Rouen Basket
2008-2009: JDA Dijon Basket
2008: Aliaga Petkim
2007-2008: ASK Riga
2006-2007: Strasburg IG
2005-2006: CB Ciudad de Huelva
2005: Hapoel Tel Aviv B.C.
2004-2005: Tuborg Pilsener
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Head Coach Doug Gottlieb announced the addition of Aerick Sanders to the men's basketball coaching staff on May 17, 2024. Sanders joins the Phoenix from Kansas City, where he spent the previous two seasons as an assistant coach.
Sanders helped the Roos become one of the best defensive units in the Summit League in 2022-23, with KC finishing third in rebounds per game (36.3) and second in scoring defense (69.3 PPG). He coached two Second Team All-Summit League members in Shemarri Allen and RayQuawndis Mitchell, who also earned All-Newcomer honors.
The Los Angeles, California native has an elongated history of playing and coaching experience, beginning with his days as a student-athlete on the men's basketball team at San Diego State. In his senior year with the Aztecs, he was an All-Mountain West selection and team captain, averaging 16.1 points and 9.8 rebounds. He also helped lead SDSU to a Mountain West Tournament championship and NCAA Tournament bid in 2002. Following his time with the Aztecs, Sanders went on to play professionally. He went overseas to play with the Tuborg Pilsener, before moving on to Hapoel Tel Aviv B.C. His career continued with stops at CB Ciudad de Huelva, Strasbourg IG, and ASK Riga. In 2008, he joined Aliaga Petkim in Turkey before moving to France to play with JDA Dijon Basket and SPO Rouen Basket. His playing career concluded in 2011 with Academic Coimbra.
Sanders' coaching career took off in 2012 when he spent the 2012-2013 campaign at Montana State. From there, he went to New Mexico State, where the Aztecs made three NCAA Tournament appearances and one NIT. From 2017-19, Sanders was on the sidelines at UNLV, helping the Aggies win 20 games for the first time in four years during the 2017-18 season. He also played a role in guiding Brandon McCoy to a Mountain West Freshman of the Year award.
Sanders received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from San Diego State in 2006 and his Master's in Education from New Mexico State in 2019.
He has a son, Avery, and a daughter, Embry.
