It is with great pleasure that Valor Athletics announces Mike Sanford as the new head coach of the Valor Football program. 

Coach Sanford's strong resume includes over 15 years of coaching experience at the NCAA Division I level. Most recently, Coach Sanford was the Offensive Coordinator and Interim Head Coach at the University of Colorado in 2022. Prior to moving his family to Colorado, he was the Head Coach at Western Kentucky. He was also Offensive Coordinator at Boise State, Notre Dame, Utah State, and the University of Minnesota. Coach Sanford has coached in multiple bowl games, instructed eight NFL starting quarterbacks, including Jordan Love, and recruited Valor Christian alumnus Christian McCaffrey to attend Stanford University.

We consider sport an act of worship at Valor, and we work with our student-athletes to help them understand who they are as children of God and how they can use their skills and gifts to glorify Him. Coach Sanford is a dedicated follower of Jesus Christ and looks forward to developing the faith in our athletes, as well as their skills on the field. His relationship-driven, high-energy style will allow him to connect with and develop the high school athletes in his program. Most recently, he capitalized on his relationships in the Mead High School football community to start a Young Life club that had the single largest event for Young Life in the state of Colorado in over 10 years.

Coach Sanford said this upon his hiring:

"I could not be more excited about accepting the call of being Valor Christian's next Head Football Coach. My relationship with Valor Christian began in the Fall of 2012 as the Running Back Coach at Stanford University, evaluating a young prospect named Christian McCaffrey. With countless other recruiting visits to Valor over the past decade-plus, I have always loved what Valor has stood for as a decidedly Christian institution preparing leaders to transform the world for Christ while aiming for excellence in all endeavors. This opportunity afforded to me by Bryan Ritz and Keith Wahl fulfills a lifelong dream of mine to unapologetically engage in ministry while competing for state championships at the highest level of football in the great state of Colorado. Valor Christian is excellent in all areas both regionally and nationally, and my goal for the football program is to achieve success at the highest levels both in the state of Colorado and nationally. I cannot wait to get to work making this football program into one of the most desirable places to play high school football in the country."

Please join us in welcoming Mike Sanford, our new Head Football Coach!