Football
Eric Sanders
- Title:
- Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers
- Email:
- nathan.dellinger@mso.umt.edu
- Phone:
- 243-2969
Sanders was hired as Montana’s defensive coordinator and linebacker coach in March of 2026.
Prior to joining the Grizzly staff, he spent three seasons at Eastern Washington where he consistently had one of the top takeaway rates in the Big Sky Conference. He joined the EWU staff in 2023 as linebackers coach and defensive run game coordinator and was elevated to defensive coordinator in 2024.
Led by Sanders, the 2025 Eagle defense posted the 3rd most forced fumbles and interceptions in the Big Sky. He also helped mentor all-conference standouts Jaylon Jenkins, Read Sunn, Izaiah Perez, and Drew Carter.
The 2024 EWU defense also included standout DaJean Wells, an all-conference pick who recorded 12 pass breakups that ranked 2nd in the Big Sky and 16th in the FCS. Derek Ganter Jr. was an Phil Steele Freshman All-American and All-Big Sky Second Team pick, with 55 solo and 40 assisted tackles for a loss of 95 yards.
Prior to EWU, he served as Inside Linebackers Coach at Stanford from 2020-22, and one year prior to that as a defensive assistant with the Cardinal in 2015 under head coach David Shaw. While in Palo Alto he coached the team's top two tacklers in Curtis Robinson and Levani Damuni. Robinson earned Honorable Mention All-Pac-12 honors. In 2015 he coached future NFL players Harrions Phillips, Brennan Scarlett and Solomon Thomas.
In the years surrounding his time at Stanford 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.
The Sanders File
Alma Mater: UC Davis ’05 (Psychology)
Wife, Maki Ishihara-Sanders, and two sons
2024-25 Eastern Washington (DC/LB)
2023 Eastern Washington (LB)
2020-22 Stanford (ILB)
2019 New York Jets (D. Asst.)
2016-18 Cleveland Browns (D. QC)
2015 Stanford (D. Asst.)
2010-14 Oakland Raiders (D. QC)
2008-9 UC Davis (LB)
2007 Utah State (GA)
Prior to joining the Grizzly staff, he spent three seasons at Eastern Washington where he consistently had one of the top takeaway rates in the Big Sky Conference. He joined the EWU staff in 2023 as linebackers coach and defensive run game coordinator and was elevated to defensive coordinator in 2024.
Led by Sanders, the 2025 Eagle defense posted the 3rd most forced fumbles and interceptions in the Big Sky. He also helped mentor all-conference standouts Jaylon Jenkins, Read Sunn, Izaiah Perez, and Drew Carter.
The 2024 EWU defense also included standout DaJean Wells, an all-conference pick who recorded 12 pass breakups that ranked 2nd in the Big Sky and 16th in the FCS. Derek Ganter Jr. was an Phil Steele Freshman All-American and All-Big Sky Second Team pick, with 55 solo and 40 assisted tackles for a loss of 95 yards.
Prior to EWU, he served as Inside Linebackers Coach at Stanford from 2020-22, and one year prior to that as a defensive assistant with the Cardinal in 2015 under head coach David Shaw. While in Palo Alto he coached the team's top two tacklers in Curtis Robinson and Levani Damuni. Robinson earned Honorable Mention All-Pac-12 honors. In 2015 he coached future NFL players Harrions Phillips, Brennan Scarlett and Solomon Thomas.
In the years surrounding his time at Stanford 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.
The Sanders File
Alma Mater: UC Davis ’05 (Psychology)
Wife, Maki Ishihara-Sanders, and two sons
2024-25 Eastern Washington (DC/LB)
2023 Eastern Washington (LB)
2020-22 Stanford (ILB)
2019 New York Jets (D. Asst.)
2016-18 Cleveland Browns (D. QC)
2015 Stanford (D. Asst.)
2010-14 Oakland Raiders (D. QC)
2008-9 UC Davis (LB)
2007 Utah State (GA)
Griz Football Spring Preview Press Conference
Wednesday, February 25
Griz Spring Football Preview
Wednesday, February 25
Griz Football Coach Bobby Kennedy Introductory Press Conference
Thursday, February 05
Bobby Kennedy Introductory Press Conference
Thursday, February 05
