Mike Sanders
Assistant Coach, Cross Country & Track
618-920-8882
msanders4960@gmail.com
Mike Sanders is entering his first year as the Assistant Coach, Cross Country and Track for men and women at McKendree University starting with the indoor season of 2013. Sanders arrives at McKendree after serving in several coaching and running-related positions. He served as the Head Coach for the Sembach Air Base Cross Country Team at Sembach Air Base, Germany; the Coach and Team Captain for the Security Police Running Team at Lowry Air Force Base, Colorado; the Running Coordinator while deployed in the military at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia; the Coach and Team Captain for the Team 11th Wing (varsity running team) at Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C.; the Assistant Cross Country Coach for the FEAST Patriots Homeschoolers (middle/high school athletes) in San Antonio, Texas; the Assistant Cross Country Coach for River City Track Club (youth/middle/high school athletes) in Portland, Oregon; as the personal coach for Team Air Force (AFROTC collegiate running team) in Portland, Oregon; a personal coach to the local Road Warriors team for speed work sessions at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.; and the Team Captain for the United States Air Force Warrior Games Cycling Team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Sanders has also coached local athletes to personal goals on an individual basis. Several of his athletes have qualified for the United States Track and Field Association's National Junior Olympics and many have qualified and traveled to the regional events.
Sanders began his personal running career at Midland High School in Midland, Louisiana at the age of 16. There, he competed in both cross country and track and field and was the first to ever run cross country at Midland finishing in 5th place at his state meet. While in track and field, he competed in the middle and long distance events. Some of his highlight performances include: 800m – 2:11; Mile – 4:50; and Two-Mile – 10:44. Not only that, but he also competed in various road racing events in the area and in his first marathon during his senior year of high school. Later, Sanders competed at the University of Southwestern Louisiana where he ran cross country and track improving slightly on his high school performances by running a 4:47 mile, 10:21 two-mile, and a 16:28 5K.
Sanders continues to compete as a member of the Road Warriors team based out of Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, and Team Red Lizard based out of Portland, Oregon. He has run 10 marathons, including Boston twice, New York, and London, and numerous other distances over his 30-plus years of running, consistently placing in the top tier in many of the shorter races in the local and regional areas. Some of his personal bests (or personal records as more often stated in the United States) are as follows: 1M – 4:47; 5K – 16:28; 10K – 34:11; Half-Marathon – 1:18; and Marathon – 2:44. Sanders shares, “The fun part is that I'm still competing, even at 50 years of age, and not running as fast but the effort level is still there!” Some of his masters records are listed: 800m – 2:37; Mile – 5:21; 5K– 18:58, 10K – 41:47; Ten-Mile – 68:59; Half-Marathon – 1:30:37 and he is now adding to his over 50 age group times.
Sanders recently retired from military service to our country with the United States Air Force completing 23-plus years. During his tenure, Sanders traveled the world and was afforded the opportunity to lead and follow throughout his career. He has served as an Administrative Specialist and Technician, a Noncommissioned Officer in Charge, an Air Force Reserver Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) Instructor, an Assistant Commandant of Cadets, an Associate Professor of Aerospace Studies, a Manager, and a Superintendent during his career, not to mention the war-time positions he held such as an Air Damage Assessment Team All Personnel Carrier Leader and a Security Forces Augmentee. Not only that, but as mentioned, Sanders has traveled to overseas locations like Germany, France, Spain, England, Italy, Saudi Arabia, and Alaska (yes, Alaska is considered an overseas assignment). His stateside assignments include locations such as Mississippi, Colorado, Florida, Washington, D.C., Texas, Oregon, and Illinois.
Sanders is the recipient of the Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Good Conduct Medal with six oak leaf clusters, the National Defense Service Medal with star, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
Sanders received an Associates of Science in Administrative Management with the Community College of the Air Force, a Bachelors of Science in Liberal Arts with depths in Business Management and Communications with Regents College (now Excelsior College), and a Masters of Science in Sports Management with American Military University. He also has a Professional Manager Certification and a Unites States of America Track and Field Coaching Certification as well. He currently resides in Belleville, Illinois with his wife and daughter and his son is away at college in Portland, Oregon.