There’s something powerful about a coach who knew early.

Steven Sanchez didn’t just stumble into coaching—he was already studying it, researching it, and chasing it while still in high school in the Bronx. From a massive New York City high school campus to a small college in the South, his journey is anything but typical—and that’s exactly what makes it valuable.

This episode is about perspective. About hearing hard truths. About choosing a path before the path fully reveals itself.

Steven shares how a pivotal conversation with a mentor reshaped his trajectory, why he was studying coaching bios as a teenager, and how his willingness to bet on himself took him far from home in pursuit of growth.

🔑 In this episode:

🏙️ Growing up in the Bronx and navigating a 1,000-student freshman class that became 60 graduates

🏈 A football-first mindset—and the injury that forced a pivot

🎯 The moment a mentor told him: “Focus on throwing… and think about coaching”

🧠 Studying coaching paths BEFORE even getting to college

🗺️ Choosing a college based on geography, opportunity, and instinct—not just recruitment

🌱 Adjusting from a massive NYC environment to an 800-student college campus

💬 Quote from Steven: “I was looking at every school in the country… what have been the paths of the coaches? I was trying to figure out what I needed to do.”

This one’s for the coaches who are still figuring it out—and the ones who knew early and went all in.

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📲Stay Connected: Want to get in touch with our host, Mike Cunningham? Follow onTwitter (@MikeCunningham), email at mcunningham@gillathletics.com, or text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from you! 🎧👍