A 2010 graduate of GFS, Manolo Sanchez will be returning to his alma mater as the new head coach of the girls' varsity soccer team.

Manolo Sanchez (GFS ‘10) has been named the new varsity soccer head coach for the Germantown Friends School girls soccer program. He will also be joining the school’s admissions office as Application Coordinator and the Admissions Athletics Liaison.

Director of Athletics Katie Bergstrom Mark states, “We are thrilled to have Manolo lead our soccer program. Coach Sanchez brings professionalism, recent high level playing experience, as well as a keen ability to identify the strategies and tactics that will take us to the next level immediately, while also concentrating on long term player development based on a strong and sound soccer philosophy. Having a varsity coach on campus full-time is an important priority to our school. Manolo understands what makes a GFS student-athlete tick, and he is excited to dive into the work!”

Sanchez brings an outstanding athletic career to his role as a coach. He was chosen by New York Red Bulls as the 17th pick of the fourth round in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. He spent four years playing professional soccer for the New York Red Bulls, San Antonio FC, Harrisburg City Islanders, South Georgia Tormenta FC and for the Puerto Rican National Team. He started his collegiate soccer at Louisville before transferring to Clemson University, where he earned All-ACC honors as a Tiger and contributed to Clemson’s 2014 ACC Championship.

At Germantown Friends, Sanchez was a four-year varsity starter and four time All- FSL (2006 honorable mention, 2007-09 first team honoree) and named as an All- Southeastern PA and All-State player during his junior and senior seasons.

Sanchez still holds the GFS All Time records for both goals scored (59) and assists (38) in a career.

A recent injury compelled Sanchez to leave the field as a player, but opened the door for him to use his insight and skills for coaching. He is currently coaching club and doing clinic work and individual soccer training. This past fall he came on board as the assistant coach on the GFS boys soccer team, where he helped guide the Tigers on their path to win the 2018 Friends Schools League Championship.

Already well into planning the upcoming season, Sanchez explains, “My goal for the first year is to develop a culture where we work hard, are constantly learning, improving and communicating effectively.”

Sanchez wants his squad to have a fearless mentality and enjoy competition.

“If we learn to do all these things consistently, we will have fun, we will love and respect the game and become the best that we can be.”

Based on his career experience, Sanchez advocates that athletes target their areas of improvement early.

“I encourage players to work on their weaknesses as early as possible. As an athlete, I was reluctant to face this because I didn’t like the feeling of being bad at something and I didn’t want to be embarrassed. But when I got to college, where the level was higher, my weaknesses were exposed and I could not get by with talent alone. I learned to face my weaknesses and got excited because working on them was an opportunity to become a much better player.”

Bergstrom notes, “Manolo has such a positive approach to soccer and life, I am confident that he will be able to motivate a team and that each individual will improve and learn about themselves.”

Sanchez believes that coaching at Germantown Friends, as part of the Friends Schools League, is the perfect place to blend that same positive outlook on self- improvement with the healthy competition of high-level athletics.

“My challenge is to show the students that competition is an important tool to achieve Quaker values. I believe that competition is a force that pushes you to keep climbing. If someone is better than you, you are motivated to try and catch up to and surpass them, and they should be motivated to do the same. Each competitor pushes the other, thus promoting everyone’s improvement. Constant growth is one of the essential Quaker values, and I believe competition is an important tool to achieve this goal.”

Asked about his vision and his message to the team for the upcoming season, Sanchez remarks, “There is no special formula for achieving your dreams, but there are no shortcuts either. Anyone can do it, but it takes commitment, discipline, practice, the right guidance and a little bit of luck, and lots and lots of hard work. I can’t wait to get started!”