La Cueva High School (Albuquerque, NM) head swim coach Vincent Sanchez was found dead on Tuesday, April 17th, appearing to have taken his own life. Sanchez, 42, had been with La Cueva High School as the head swim coach for 15 seasons, leading the girls to state titles in 2008 and 2016.
Sanchez also attended La Cueva High School himself, graduating in 1994. He then swam at TCU for 4 years, and returned to La Cueva as an assistant coach a few years after graduating from TCU. He also sat on the La Cueva High School Hall of Fame Committee and worked at Streamline Athletics, a sports equipment shop.
The students and staff of La Cueva were notified of Sanchez’s death on Wednesday, April 18th. The general response to the news was that of “shock and disbelief”.
As a swimmer who has had this happen to me and my teammates, my heart goes out to all affected. I am older now and with the benefit of hindsight wanted to write and tell any parents affected tolook out for their kids and get help dealing with this. Even kids who you didn’t think were particularly close to the coach. Sometimes they are the shy ones who suffer more I just know the The mental affects of having a coach pass like this are devastating to young people. I feel your pain.
May his memory endure as a blessing. May his family, friends, and students be comforted.