Omar Sanchez becomes the seventh men's volleyball head coach in lieu of the 2025 season. Sanchez comes to QU with nine years of collegiate volleyball coaching experience.
Sanchez most recently served as an assistant coach at his alma matter, Lewis University, where he focused on recruiting and player development. Before returning to Lewis, Omar was head coach at the University of Mount Olive, N.C. During his lone season at the helm, the program produced three All-Conference Selections, along with conference Defensive Player of the Year '23 and Freshman of the Year '23 honors. In addition a program record was set (21 aces) along with an NCAA record for most digs in a match by an individual (32).
Prior to his stint at Mount Olive, Sanchez completed four years at the helm of the Missouri Valley College men's volleyball team, an NAIA program, while also serving as an assistant coach for the women's volleyball team.
He led the Missouri Valley men's program to double-digit victories in all four seasons, highlighted by an 18-6 record in 2021. Sanchez coached three National Volleyball Association/American Volleyball. Coaches Association (NVA/AVCA) All-American selections that season in Maxim Condurachi, Simon Joly and Joao Vitor Bonanoni. The Vikings finished the 2021 campaign No. 7 nationally-ranked,reaching No. 3 at their highest during the season and earning their first appearance in the NAIA National Championship Tournament since 2016. He would be recognized as the Heart of AmericaAthletic Conference Coach of the Year after that historic season.
Sanchez coached Bonanoni to conference Defensive Player of the Year '21 and Freshman of the Year '20 honors, while mentoring 16 all-conference selections during his time at Missouri Valley. He aided Joly to becoming the only player in program history to achieve 1,000 career kills and the first-ever player in NAIA history with 20-plus kill/digs in the same match. Off the court, he featured 19 student-athletes to receive academic all-conference accolades.
Prior to Missouri Valley, Sanchez was an assistant coach for the varsity boy's volleyball team at Providence Catholic High School from 2016-18 and tallied 11 all-tournament selections. He also served as the head coach for the Victor J. Andrew High School freshman girls volleyball team in 2017.
In addition, he was head coach for Ultimate Volleyball Club in Frankfort, Illinois, for over 10 years and helped numerous athletes achieve their goal of playing at the collegiate level.
In 2015, Sanchez served a short stint as a volunteer assistant for the women's volleyball program at Indiana University. The Hoosiers posted a 16-16 record and ranked second in the Big Ten with 153 service aces, including 13 aces versus Michigan State. It marks the first time Indiana finished with an overall record at .500 or better since 2010, while the Hoosiers defeated five teams that made the NCAA Tournament.
Sanchez started his collegiate coaching career as the assistant coach for the men's volleyball program at Grand View University, an NAIA program, from 2013-15. In two seasons, the Vikings registered back-to-back trips to the NAIA National Championship semifinals and a pair of NAIA North Conference titles. Sanchez assisted the program to a combined 48-12 record over two years and helped the team achieve the No. 1 ranking in the country.
A native of Illinois, Sanchez played at Quincy University during the 2007-08 season before transferring to Lewis University for his final three seasons. He was a member of the NCAA National Semifinalist and Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) Conference Championship team with the Flyers in 2012.
Sanchez completed his bachelors degree in sport management from Lewis University in 2012.
