STANFORD, Calif. – Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football David Shaw announced the hiring of new assistant coach Eric Sanders on Monday. Sanders, who has nine years of coaching experience in the NFL, spent the 2015 season as a defensive assistant at Stanford. He will coach the inside linebackers in 2020.
"Eric was with us for our 2015 Rose Bowl Championship season and he was so smart, energetic and detailed that I knew someday we'd bring him back," Shaw said. "Eric has great comprehensive knowledge having worked with the defensive line, linebackers and defensive backs throughout his career, and he's spent the last three years with Gregg Williams who is one of the best defensive minds in the NFL."
Sanders spent the 2019 season as a defensive assistant with the New York Jets following three years in a similar capacity with the Cleveland Browns.
"I'm excited to return to Stanford and work with our inside linebackers," Sanders said. "We have a talented room getting ready for the 2020 season and I'm excited to jump in to help them prepare, train and develop. I'm thankful to Coach Shaw, Bernard Muir, Coach Anderson and everyone on The Farm for the opportunity to come back. My family and I are excited to be back in the Bay Area and I can't wait to hit the field for spring ball."
Sanders spent the 2015 season working with the Cardinal defensive line, helping Stanford to the Pac-12 and Rose Bowl titles. During that Rose Bowl campaign, Sanders mentored future NFL stars such as Harrison Phillips, Brennan Scarlett and Solomon Thomas.
Prior to his time at Stanford in 2015, he spent five seasons with the Oakland Raiders, first as an offensive quality control coach before making the switch to the defensive side of the ball. Sanders spent two seasons coaching linebackers at UC Davis before making his move to the NFL. He also spent the 2007 season as a graduate assistant at Utah State, working with the defensive line.
Sanders is a 2005 graduate of UC Davis, where he began his career as a student assistant coach and video coordinator in 2003. After graduation, he transitioned to a coaching role as assistant offensive line and tight ends coach for two seasons.
He and his wife, Maki Ishihara-Sanders, have one son, EJ.
