Saguaro football coach John Sanders has been fired, he confirmed Thursday.
He was called into a meeting with the school's administration on Wednesday afternoon and told of the decision.
Sanders said he asked if it had to do with the decision to rest starters in the regular season finale against Chaparral, and he was told no. No reason was given for the decision.
The Sabercats have won two consecutive state championships and four in five years under his guidance. Sanders was 62-7 as coach and was the team's defensive coordinator in 2006 when it went 13-1 and won the 4A-I championship.
The Saguaro players were told on Thursday morning. Sanders was given the opportunity to tell his players he resigned, but he refused.
"Our team is about trust," he said. "I wasn't going to lie to them."
Sanders said he will continue teaching at the school for the rest of the semester, and he is still interested in coaching and will apply for vacancies. Dobson, Westwood and Gilbert have openings.
"Don't let the gray hair fool you," Sanders said. "I love to coach."
Chaparral has an opening, too, after coach Charlie Ragle left to for an administrative role at the University of Arizona, but Sanders won't apply for that one. The Firebirds and Sabercats are rivals.
Saguaro principal Brian Corte could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday, but a Scottsdale Unified School District spokesperson said the school will release a statement on Friday.
Reach Kyle Odegard at (480) 898-6834 or kodegard@evtrib.com, and follow his blog at http://blogs.evtrib.com/varsityxtra, or on Twitter @Kyle_Odegard.
SKRDad posted at 8:21 am on Thu, Jan 12, 2012.
Tman, you can disagree with the firing but I hardly think it's a crime. Arizona is a right to work state, which means that all employment can be terminated at any time by either party for any or no reason. Sounds like SUSD and Saguaro Admin has reached that point with Sanders.
If the dinasty was Sanders, then the termination kind of makes its own point. No coach should be above the team or its players in importance. If Sanders is as good a coach as you seem to think, then he would agree...
TMan43 posted at 11:23 am on Thu, Jan 5, 2012.
What happened to John Sanders is a crime perpetrated by the Scottsdale School District and especially Cliff McKenzie. I hope the players from Saguaro transfer to Desert Mountain because Tony Tabor deserves some great players coming his way.
The dynasty is over at Saguaro without John Sanders so rejoice you Sanders haters.
At least this man had the guts to tell it like it was. Good luck John where ever you go!