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Eric Sanders

  • Title
    Defensive Coordinator
  • Email
    esanders8@ewu.edu
  • Recruiting Area
    Central WA, California (LA)
  • At EWU Since
    2023
  • Alma Mater
    UC Davis '05
  • Follow
    @Coach_ESanders
At a Glance

Sanders joined the EWU staff in 2023 as the Linebackers Coach and Defensive Run Game Coordinator with an impressive resume including stops in both college and the NFL. He was promoted to defensive coordinator prior to the 2024 season. Sanders is now in his second season leading the defense and third at Eastern in the 2025 season.

Led by Eric Sanders, the 2024 defense had standout players, including DaJean Wells, who earned All-Conference honorable mention. Wells recorded 12 pass breakups that ranked 2nd in the Big Sky and 16th in the FCS, while adding 22 solo tackles and 10 assisted. Derek Ganter Jr. achieved the Phil Steele All-Freshman Team, All-Big Sky Second Team, and FCS Football Central All-Freshman Team with 55 solo and 40 assisted tackles for a loss of 95 yards. Adam Cohen notched 17 solo tackles and 40 assisted tackles, followed by Ahmani Williams with 17 solo tackles and 25 assisted.

Prior to EWU, he served as Inside Linebackers Coach at Stanford from 2020-22. In the years prior to that, he served as an assistant with several NFL teams, including the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns and Oakland Raiders. Sanders got his start in coaching at Utah State after earning his degree at UC Davis.

Previous Coaching Experience
  • Inside Linebackers Coach at Stanford University (2020-22)
    • Coached the team's top two tacklers Curtis Robinson and Levani Damuni. Robinson earned Honorable Mention All-Pac-12 honors.
  • Defensive Assistant at New York Jets (2019)
  • Defensive Quality Control at Cleveland Browns (2016-18)
    • Coached linebackers and nickelbacks
  • Defensive Assistant at Stanford University (2015)
    • Worked primarily with defensive linemen
    • Coached future NFL players Harrions Phillips, Brennan Scarlett and Solomon Thomas
  • Quality Control at Oakland Raiders (2010-14)
    • Focused on defensive linemen and linebackers. Also worked with tight ends.
  • Linebackers Coach at UC Davis (2008-09)
  • Graduate Assistant at Utah State (2007)
Education
  • UC Davis, 2005 (B.S. Psychology)
Personal
  • Married with two children.
  • Martial arts enthusiast.