Kenny Sanchez to lead Under-19 National Team in first North American Championship

By Stephen Spiewak | Posted 9/29/2016

The U.S. Under-19 National Team will look to notch a victory over Canada in January, and steering the ship will be a man with an impressive track record of winning.

Kenny Sanchez will be the head coach for the U.S. U-19 National Team in the inaugural North American Championship, set to take place in Orlando on Jan. 28.

Sanchez is the head coach for Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), currently the No. 1-ranked team in the country according to several national polls.

Taking over the position after his brother, Tony, left Bishop Gorman to become the head coach at UNLV in early 2015, Sanchez has been flawless, sporting a record of 20-0.

In just a season-and-a-half, he’s led Bishop Gorman to victories over top teams from nine different states, including Cedar Hill (Texas), Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) and St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.).

National Teams Manager Aaron Ingram is excited to have a coach with Sanchez’s resume to lead the team.

"We at USA Football are both humbled and honored to have one of the best minds in high school football lead our U-19 National Team versus Canada this year,” Ingram said. “Anytime you can get a head coach that has the credentials and winning record of Kenny Sanchez, it's a good day"

Sanchez, whose Gaels will host top-10 powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) in a nationally-televised game on ESPNU Friday night at 7 p.m. PT, is embracing the challenge.

“It’s a great honor to represent the United States and to coach some of the top football-playing student-athletes in the country,” said Sanchez. “There’s a rich tradition of success with our Under-19 National Team and those who have led it. I look forward to continuing that tradition this January in Orlando.”

In becoming the U-19 National Team head coach, Sanchez follows in the footsteps of high school football coaching titans such as Chuck Kyle (Cleveland St. Ignatius), Tom Westerberg (Barbers Hill, Texas) and Steve Specht (Cincinnati St. Xavier).

The list of U.S. National Team alumni includes NFL standouts Tyrann Mathieu, Todd Gurley and Jameis Winston.

The Under-18 National Team head coach, along with rosters and other North American Championship details, will be released in the coming week.

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