Beloved Apollo, St. Mary's basketball assistant coach Carlos Sanchez dies on his 64th birthday

Carlos Sanchez, a top assistant under David Lopez during much his great basketball coaching runs at Glendale Apollo and Phoenix St. Mary's in the 1980s, '90s and 2000s, died on his 64th birthday Friday.

Sanchez joined Damin Lopez, David's son, after Damin was hired to lead the St. Mary's Knights in 2017.

"Coach Sanchez was more than a basketball mind," said Damin, who was a high-scoring point guard for his father at Apollo in 1989 when the Hawks reached the state final. "He was a very dear friend to me, a colleague, a mentor, an example of what a great father looks like.

"He developed great relationships and everyone loved him. He did it right and belongs in Life's Hall of Fame."

St. Mary's won state titles in 2001 and 2009 under David Lopez.

Sanchez, who was undergoing kidney dialysis at the time of his death, served as athletic director at St. Mary's for a while, after Jim Sanford retired.

He began his coaching career in 1982-83 as a "student assistant," at Apollo, David said. He became the freshman and junior varsity coach and rose through the ranks.

Before David Lopez began coaching at St. Mary's in 1993, Sanchez served as an assistant coach at St. Mary's under Mike Ahern.

He had head coaching stints at Mohave and Coolidge and served as a freshman coach at Mesa Westwood.

"He had a heart of gold," said David Lopez, who retired after the 2011 season at St. Mary's. "He'd do anything in the world for you.

"Back when I was still able to play, he was the guy setting the picks and I was the shooter. That's how unselfish in life he was."

Lopez said Sanchez's communication skills with players stood out.

"He was a father type, but a player type figure also, a player's coach," David Lopez said. "As an assistant, you needed that guy who could communicate with players. He was great at that. The kids just loved him in and out of the classroom. He was a good head coach and a greater assistant."

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert.

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