Some rides are shorter than others.
Nearly one year after taking over the Reed boys basketball program, Zach Sanford stepped down last Monday morning. The Raiders’ now-former coach received a professional opportunity that will not allow him to “give the program the time commitment it needs.”
“At the end of the day, I just knew with what my job entails, what it takes to run a good program wasn’t going to mesh well,” Sanford said. “It would be unfair for the kids, and for us, to build a better program with me not being able to give it 100 percent focus and energy.”
Sanford took a job as a corporate recruiter for IGT (International Game Technology).
In his lone year at the helm, Sanford led the Raiders to 7-18 overall record3, 4-12 in the DI North. Reed grabbed the High Desert League’s fourth and final playoff spot before falling at Carson in the DI North quarterfinals. The Senators went on to win the DI North title.
The record isn’t going to wow anyone, but the then 25-year-old was given no easy chore in his first head coaching opportunity after assisting for Matt Ochs at Reno High – his alma matter.
Sanford took over a program that had just lost nine seniors to graduation, including the region’s Co-Player of the Year.
This winter’s team figures to be in better shape with Lincoln Turner and Jeremey Ramos returning for their senior seasons. As juniors, Turner was a first-team all-league selection and Ramos was named to the second team.
“He’s going to be traveling a lot more with this new position,” Reed Athletic Directory Ryan Sims said. “He was torn up about the decision.”
Sanford’s departure leaves the position open for the second time in as many years. Deadline to apply for the job is July 15.
Last Monday’s news was the continuation of a trend at Reed this summer, which also saw its baseball, boys soccer and girls tennis coaches leave.
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