Phil Sando, a UC Irvine alum, is in his third year as a volunteer assistant with the Anteater men’s and women’s track & field teams.
He previously served as an assistant coach at Mater Dei High School from 2002-09. In 2010, he established the USATF VertiCAL High Jump Club, serving as president and head coach. Sando was also an assistant coach at Concordia University, Irvine, in 2011.
Sando's coaching career is filled with high school athletes who have competed at the prestigious Arcadia and Mt. SAC Invitationals, as well as the California Indoor State Championships. He has coached numerous league champions, and CIF-Southern Section Prelims and Finals participants. Sando has also guided athletes into the CIF-Southern Section Masters Meet as well as the CIF State Finals. At the collegiate level, he has coached athletes who have qualified for the CCCAA State Men’s Track & Field Championships.
Sando competed at UCI in 1980 and 1981, placing fifth in the high jump at the 1981 PCAA (now Big West) Championships.
High jumping is truly a family affair for Sando. He has three daughters - Christina, Kelsi and Maddy - and all three competed for the Anteaters. Sando’s brother, Chris, is also a former school-record holder at UC San Diego and still retains a position on the Tritons’ all-time top-10 list.
