Sachs named Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Chesapeake College

Athletic Director Frank Szymanski has announced the hiring of Andrew Sachs as the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Chesapeake College.

Sachs served has the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Salisbury University from 2015-2018, where he led the Sea Gulls to a 59-24 record in his three seasons. The best winning percentage of any men’s basketball coach in Salisbury University history. Under Sachs’ leadership the Sea Gulls made two NCAA Tournament appearances in 2015-16 and 2016-17. Sachs was the second coach in school history to make back to back NCAA Tournament appearances and the only coach ever to do it in his first two seasons. During the 2015-16 season the Sea Gulls were #2 in the country in scoring defense. In his three seasons, Sachs developed five Sea Gulls that were named 1st team all-conference players.  The 2016-17 team reached as high as #5 in the national poll, the highest the Sea Gulls had since Sachs was a Salisbury assistant in 1991-92 when the Gulls were #2 in the country at the end of the regular season.  Sachs also improved the team’s academic prowess as the Gulls placed seven players on the conference’s All-Academic team in 2017-18, the most ever in Salisbury Basketball history.  

Before his arrival at Salisbury, Sachs was the Head Coach at Bethany College (WV) for six seasons 2009-2015. At Bethany, Sachs again left his mark, as he led the Bison to two NCAA Tournament berths and four ECAC appearances. His overall record of 117-49 is the best winning percentage of any head coach in the 111-year history of the program.    Sachs’ teams are known for their tenacious defense, were relentless in turning opponents over.  The 2013-14 team led the country in steals. Sachs’ back to back NCAA tournament appearances with the Bison in 2010-11 and 2011-12 were dominant and the 2011-12 team finished with the most wins in school history at 25-4. The 2011-12 team reached their highest national ranking at #20 at the end of the regular season, the highest national ranking the Bison have had in fifty years.  In his six seasons, Sachs developed eleven all conference players, including two conference players of the year in Nick Wilcox and Delonte’ Joyce. Sachs also served as the Head Men’s Tennis Coach during his tenure at Bethany College.  Overall as a head coach for nine seasons at two different programs, Sachs’ teams have never finished lower than third place.

Before becoming a head coach, Sachs spent five years as an assistant coach to Ralph Willard at the College of the Holy Cross from 2004-2009.  The Crusaders went 103-56 in his five seasons with the Crusaders.  Sachs served as the Crusaders recruiting coordinator and office manager, in addition to handling all scheduling, equipment and team apparel. He was also heavily involved in opponent scouting, academic advising, game preparation and player development.  In 2006-2007, Sachs helped the Crusaders to an overall record of 25-9, while winning the Patriot League regular season and tournament titles, and advancing to the NCAA Tournament. That 2006-2007 team finished top 10 in the country in scoring defense. During the 2004-2005 campaign, he helped the team to a 25-7 overall record, a Patriot League regular season title and defeated Notre Dame in the NIT for the first ever Patriot League post season win. Sachs helped develop six all-league players including two Patriot League players of the year Kevin Hamilton and Keith Simmons and Defensive Player of the Year Torey Thomas.

Sachs went to Holy Cross after spending three seasons as an assistant coach at Baltimore Catholic League power Archbishop Spalding High School in Severn, Md. While at Spalding Sachs also worked for the AND1 Corporation as a Grassroots Consultant in the DMV. He helped Archbishop Spalding to an overall record of 85-22 and two conference championships, while developing 10 players who went on to play at the collegiate level in Division I, including current San Antonio Spurs forward Rudy Gay.  

From 1996-2001, Sachs was the associate head coach at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He helped the squad to 98 total wins,  five straight winning seasons, including a pair of 20-win campaigns and a NCAA Elite Eight appearance in 1999-2000. While at IUP, Sachs coached and recruited 13 all PSAC players including three PSAC players of the year in Dennis Mims, Mike Beckles and 1st team All-American Rodney Horton.   

Sachs previously spent four years as an assistant coach at Virginia Wesleyan College from 1992-1996, where he also served as the head men’s tennis coach and sports information director. In 1993, the Marlins won their first ever Old Dominion Athletic Conference title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Sachs recruited and developed seven all conference players including two ODAC Players of the Year in Jason Nickerson and Ron Yuhasz.  

Sachs began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Salisbury State University from 1987-1992 helping the team to back to back NCAA Tournament bids. The 28 victories in 1991-1992 set a school record for wins, with the team winning 27 straight games and advancing to the NCAA Elite Eight. While at Salisbury, he helped build the Sea Gulls into a national power and recruited six all league players.  Overall, Sachs has recruited and/or coached 49 All league players at the collegiate level, including 11 who earned All-American honors. Every team has been a part of as a head coach or assistant coach has made the NCAA Tournament.  He has worked over 130 weeks of basketball camps all over the east coast and has run his own camps the past nine years. His camps have become the biggest basketball camps on the Eastern Shore.  He received his bachelor’s degree from Salisbury State in 1990, then went on to earn a master’s degree in 1992.  Sachs is married to the former Paula Handy. They have two children Derek (10) and Meredith (7) and reside on the Eastern Shore.