When Dennis Sanchez joined Las Vegas Lights FC in January as its new head coach, it could have hardly been a more precarious situation. This was Sanchez’s first head coaching opportunity, and with the opening match of the season roughly five weeks away, he was dealing with a small roster in the midst of a complete overhaul.
Together with new owner José Bautista and Sporting Director Gianleonardo Neglia, Sanchez worked tirelessly to build a team that would not only be competitive, but also one that shared similar values on and off the pitch.
“I’ve said it from the beginning that we really tried to bring in players of high-quality in terms of their character and their personalities,” said Sanchez. “I have no doubt in my mind that we’ve achieved that and created a unique spirit within the locker room.”
Sanchez cut his teeth as an assistant in the USL Championship and MLS NEXT Pro. He also spent time developing talent as an Academy General Manager for Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew SC.
But now his first shot as a head coach came trying to usher in a new era of Las Vegas Lights soccer, one that had been overshadowed by off-field gimmicks since its inception in 2018. He was tasked with turning a three-win club a year ago into a contender in the Western Conference.
“It’s been a great learning experience for me this year,” said Sanchez. “Similar to what we try and instill in the players, I try to remain with an open mind and try to adapt and be innovative and constantly improve. But at the same time, I want to trust my intuition and my values that I’ve lived throughout my life and the course of my professional career.”
His players, by all accounts, have jumped heartily on board, even when the season started out slowly as everyone settled into their new environment.
“He’s kept us level-headed from the beginning of the year especially when results weren’t coming,” said defender Gennaro Nigro. “There was never this sense of panic. There was obviously urgency, knowing the situation that we had put ourselves in early on and what it would take to get back to our team’s objectives for this season. But I’ve felt since Day 1 that he’s had my back. As a player, that’s really all you can ask for.”
Sanchez coached Valentin Noël at Austin FC II last season and knew that bringing in a player of his quality would make a massive competitive difference. Noël has repaid that faith by way of nine goals and six assists, each of which is in the top 11 in the USL Championship, and has enjoyed helping Sanchez carry his success in Austin to Las Vegas.
“He’s very approachable, a very honest guy,” said Noël. “The relationship that he has with the players is good. He’s always striving for improvement and to get better on a daily basis.”
The theme is a common one for Sanchez’s players, who have soaked up his strong-willed mentality from the get-go. They love playing for him and are a reflection of him on the field.
“He’s a manager who’s really easy to play for because he can connect with the players easily,” said midfielder Ousman Jabang, who Sanchez signed midseason on loan from CF Montréal. “He’s a great man-manager. All his tactics, all his principles, the way we play, it’s a very fun environment. He’s a good motivator and a great coach. I have nothing but praise for him.”
Lights players are also keen on how Sanchez likes to play and the approach he has to the game. It’s not enough for the Lights to just find results. There’s a clear identity on and off the ball he’s trying to instill and wants to employ a brand of soccer that’s equal parts effective and entertaining.
“He cares about the game,” said midfielder J.C. Ngando. “Obviously we want to win, but he cares about the way we win. He also cares about the players, and it’s easy to play for someone who cares about you.”
Added forward Christian Pinzón: “Coach has a lot of good ideas…When we’re on the ball, we have a lot of talented players and we know how to play, but he’s really strict on us off the ball, defensively, our aggressiveness and applying pressure. Once we have the ball, we set the tempo. We like to be the protagonist.”
Sanchez has pushed the right buttons this season and success has followed. The Lights host Orange County SC on Saturday (7:30 p.m. PT | TICKETS) with a chance to book their first postseason ticket in franchise history. After years dwelling in the Western Conference cellar, Las Vegas is not only on the brink of making the playoffs, but they are also fighting for a spot to earn at least one home playoff match.
“I have a really strong support system that helps me maintain a level of balance between my girlfriend, my family, my mentors, my coaching staff, José,” said Sanchez. “There’s a blend of providing really good perspective, but at the same time challenging me.
“That’s been a great thing to have for myself throughout the season. But it really goes to the players.”