Coaches
Drew Sanders, Head Coach Email >>
Coach Sanders is entering his Fourth season as the head coach of the New Mexico Junior College women’s basketball team. In just three years Coach Sanders has been able to lead NMJC from three wins and last place in the conference to two winning seasons, a third place conference finish, and the first playoff appearance in eight years. Sanders previously coached at Eastern Oklahoma State College. In his seven years at EOS, Sanders tallied a combined record of 145-70. He was recognized in 2001 as Regional Coach of the Year to go along with the team honor of reaching the NJCAA Final Four. His teams also captured two conference championships, and one regional championship. While at OES, Sanders recruited and coached ten Academic All-Americans, three NJCAA All-Americans, and one player earned the prestigious Kodak All-American honor. Coach Sanders began his career at the high school level in Oklahoma. He has a combined high school record of 340-169. His teams reached the Oklahoma State Tournament 7 times, including 2 State Championships and one State Runner-up. Coach Sanders was named Oklahoma Coach of the year in 1996 to go along with his 12 conference, ten Area, and three Regional Coach of the Year honors.
Coach Sanders earned his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education degree from Cameron University in 1979. He earned his Master of Education degree in Education/Administration at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 1984.
Sanders and his wife Nedra have three daughters. Their oldest, Shawn, 29, is married to Steve Stacy; they have two children: Lane and Paden. Kristen, 26, is their second daughter, and she is married to Jeremiah Johnson; they have four children: Braden, Abby, Josiah, and Sawyer. Stefanie, 25, is their youngest daughter, and she is married to R.J. Baldwin; they have a son, Christopher.
Coach Sanders has coached a total of 31 years, including 22 at the high school level and nine at the junior college level.
High School Accomplishments
- High school career record of 340-169
- 2 State Championships
- 7 State Tournament appearances
- 1 State Runner-up
- Coached 11 All-State Selection Players
- 10 time All-Area Coach of the Year
- 12 time Conference Coach of the Year
- 3 time Regional Coach of the Year
- 1996 Oklahoma Coach of the Year
- Oklahoma Hall of Fame Game Coach
- Oklahoma All-State Game Coach
- Coached in 5 other All-Star Games
Junior College Accomplishments
- Junior College Career Record of 182-121
- 1 National Final Four Finish
- 2 Conference Championships
- 1 Regional Championship
- Coached 10 Academic All-Americans
- Coached 3 NJCAA All-Americans
- Coached 1 Kodak All-American
- 2001 Regional Coach of the Year
Ben Finkbeiner, Assistant Coach Email >>
Coach Finkbeiner will be entering his third season with the New Mexico Junior College women’s basketball team as the assistant coach. Last season, coach Finkbeiner assisted the NMJC program to reach the program’s first post season appearance in eight years. The Lady Thunderbirds finished third in the conference with a 16-14 overall mark. During coach Finkbeiner’s first season, 2008-09, the Lady T-Birds had a seventeen win campaign, a fourteen win improvement over the previous year. Finkbeiner came to New Mexico Junior College from a graduate assistant position with the University of Central Oklahoma men’s basketball team. The UCO Bronchos finished the 2007-2008 season with a 28-6 record while reaching the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. Before his two seasons with UCO, Coach Finkbeiner served as the Director of Basketball Operations for the Oral Roberts University women’s basketball team. Coach Finkbeiner assisted the program in winning the Mid-Continent Conference Tournament as well as earning a birth into the NCAA Tournament. Finkbeiner also served as an assistant coach for the 5A Deer Creek High School boy’s basketball team from 2006-2008. He was in charge of the 9th grade program as well as an assistant coach for the varsity team.
While attending Oral Roberts University, Coach Finkbeiner ran track and pole vaulted during his freshman year. He played one year of college basketball at Northwest Nazarene University before returning to ORU to coach. Coach Finkbeiner received his Bachelor of Science Degree at Oral Roberts University in 2006, and his Master of Education Degree from the University of Central Oklahoma in 2008. Coach Finkbeiner married Alycia Seay on May 25, 2007.