LS
Lauren Sanders
Title
Director of Athletics / Head Women's Volleyball Coach / Senior Women's Leader

Lauren Sanders is the head coach for the Manhattan Christian College Lady Thunder. Coach Sanders has been the head coach of the Thunder Volleyball program at MCC for nineteen seasons with an overall record of 435 wins and 180 losses.

With Coach Sanders leading the program, the volleyball program has won 10 Midwest Christian College Conference (MCCC) Regular Season Championships, 7 MCCC Tournament Championships, 9 NCCAA Central Regional Championships and qualified the NCCAA National Tournament 14 times. The Lady Thunder finished in the Final Four at the NCCAA National Tournament in  2008, 2009, 2013 and 2021, and 2022. In 2023,  MCC finished as the NCCAA DII National Runner Up. Coach Sanders was named Regional Coach of the Year in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013 and 2014, 2020, 2021 and 2023 and the NCCAA National Coach of the Year in 2012, 2020 and 2023. She was also awarded the AVCA/NCCAA National Coach of the Year in 2023. 

Coach Sanders’ goal is “Reaching for Excellence.” She plans to continue to work to build a strong, competitive program that will always be reaching for excellence, on and off the court. 

Before coming to MCC, Coach Sanders played for the Sterling College volleyball team from 1999-2001 and the Kansas State University Club Volleyball team from 2003-2004. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health Nutrition from Kansas State University. She has attended the Gold Medal Squared Coaching Program as well as received her IMPACT coaching certification. Coach Sanders worked as the Director of Dining Services for 12 years and is now the Director of Athletics. Coach Sanders has also volunteered with the NCCAA as a Regional Volleyball Chair, National Vice Chair and National Chair. Other coaching jobs for Coach Sanders have been a club coach for Konza Volleyball Club, Kansas Jets Volleyball club and she has worked many camps with Kansas State University Volleyball. Sanders is also the Senior Women's Leader for the MCC Athletic Department. 

Coach Sanders is married to Ray Sanders, who is an Associate Head Coach for the Thunder Volleyball team and they have two children, Tucker and Nash.