Head Coach Matt Sanger returns for his third season at the helm of the women's soccer program in 2017. Sanger led the Royals back to the postseason in 2016 for the first time in four seasons.
2016 marked the first GSAC postseason appearance for HIU since it last qualified in 2012. The Royals finished the year with a 9-6-3 overall record, a pair of All-GSAC players, and a playoff exit after losing a shootout in penalty kicks in the GSAC Tournament.
Coach Sanger took the women's team to a 10-6-2 record in his first season as the head coach after returning to his alma mater. The Royals missed the postseason but did have three players honored as All-GSAC for their efforts.
Coach Sanger spent his four collegiate seasons playing for the HIU men and is now hoping to bring his knowledge to the HIU women’s side as their coach. Sanger’s ability to recruit set up 2015 as an opportunity for success thanks to the largest-ever roster in the program's history.
Since graduating from Hope International, Coach Sanger has focused his attention on coaching Girl’s Soccer. From 2009 to present he has been the Head Coach of Girls U19, Girls U17, Girls U16, and Girls U12 for the Strikers FC Soccer Club. He also serves as the College Soccer Recruiting Coordinator for the boys and girls at Strikers FC North.
In 2010, Coach Sanger was named the Director of Girls Soccer at La Habra High School where he oversees both the Varsity and Junior Varsity teams. The Sanger led Highlanders have advanced to the CIF Playoffs four of his years as coach.
Two years ago, Sanger started a business called Spotlight Athletic Placement that focuses on walking high school soccer players through the recruiting process headed to college athletic programs around the country.
From 2005-08, Sanger represented Hope International as a member of the men’s soccer team. Having started nearly his entire four year career as a center back, he wore the captain band for his final two years and earned All-GSAC honors as a Senior in 2008. With Sanger clogging the middle defensively, the Royals advanced to two National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) National Tournaments. The ironic highlight of his career was being named the GSAC Offensive Player of the Week as a defender after heading home the game winning goals in back-to-back 1-0 HIU wins.
Educationally, Coach Sanger earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Hope International University in May 2009.
Coach Sanger resides in La Habra, CA, with his wife Natalie, who joins the HIU Women’s Soccer staff as an assistant. The Sangers attend First Evangelical Free Church of Fullerton.
