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Anna Sanders joined the Sun Devil soccer program as an assistant coach in July of 2008 after a four-year stint on the sidelines at the University of Arkansas. Sanders brings a diverse resume of experience to the ASU coaching staff, which includes a combined eight years as a player and coach in the Southeastern Conference.
"Anna brings a lot of energy to our team," said ASU head coach Kevin Boyd. "She is someone who I know our athletes are going to enjoy working with while at the same time benefitting from her knowledge."
During her time at Arkansas, Sanders was responsible for recruiting efforts, fitness and film exchange in addition to a lot of coaching throughout the week in practice and on gameday. In 2006, Sanders was part of a staff which helped the Lady Razorbacks enjoy their best season in a decade as they posted double-digit wins for just the fifth time in school history and ran off a school record seven-match winning streak in the month of September. Just as impressive as Arkansas' accomplishments on the field is what it did in the classroom. In 2007, the Lady Razorbacks combined for a 3.50 grade point average as a team, which was the eight-best mark in the nation.
Sanders came to Arkansas after serving as a graduate assistant in the strength and conditioning department at the University of Mississippi. While completing her graduate degree Sanders also completed an internship with Auburn University's strength and conditioning department. Prior to that she was the head varsity coach at Cascia Hall Preparatory school in Tulsa, Okla., where she led her squad to one of its best seasons ever and was named the Oklahoma High School District Soccer Coach of the Year.
Sanders' coaching experience has also included assignments with numerous summer camps, including the Oklahoma Outrage Soccer Camps, University of Arkansas Soccer Academy and the Terry Venables Soccer School.
Before getting into coaching, Sanders was a four-year starter at outside midfield for the University of Mississippi. During her four seasons, the Lady Rebels won two SEC Western Division Championships and made their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Sanders accumulated 13 goals and 20 assists for 46 points at Mississippi, all of which ranked among the Lady Rebels' all-time best.
Not just an outstanding player at Mississippi, Sanders was also a three-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll and was the only student-athlete at Ole Miss on the University's Committee for Intercollegiate Athletics.
In addition to her success on the soccer field, Sanders is also an accomplished triathlete, who represented Team USA in the Age Group World Championships Triathlon in Vancouver, Canada. She finished second among Americans and 12th overall in the world in her age group.
A native of Fayetteville, Ark., Sanders earned her bachelor's (exercise science) and master's degrees (exercise physiology) from the University of Mississippi.
