WSU made the announcement Wednesday morning. Sanders was 24-46-12 overall and 15-18-7 in Big Sky Conference play in his five seasons.

The Weber State alum took charge of the program in the fall of 2020 after one season as an assistant coach.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to have coached the Weber State women’s soccer program over these past six seasons,” Sanders said in a news release from WSU. “To have worked with so many talented and great character people has been the most rewarding part of coaching and being a member of the Wildcat staff. The program is very well-positioned to enjoy unprecedented successes in the coming years. Although retiring, I will be cheering and celebrating the team’s inevitable achievements.”

After the shortened spring 2021 season, Sanders coached WSU to what was his best season as coach in the fall 2021 campaign. Those Wildcats opened the season with a road win at Kansas State, went 6-3 in the Big Sky (third place) and 11-9 overall, and lost in the Big Sky tournament title game 1-0 to Montana.

WSU went 4-4 in the Big Sky in 2022 and lost in a PK shootout in the tournament semifinals.

Since that semifinal loss, the Wildcats have won just two conference matches (2-9-5) and went 3-22-9 overall. Sanders’ latest contract would have allowed for his dismissal this offseason under a clause about not qualifying for the conference tournament.

A native of South Africa, Sanders emigrated to the United States after a short professional soccer career and various coaching opportunities, and enrolled at Weber State to continue his profession in marketing. He found himself coaching WSU’s men’s club soccer team, which made the club national championship match in all four of his seasons in charge, winning three of them.

Sanders became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2006 and eventually joined the Utah Jazz marketing staff. He worked with the Jazz for 10 seasons, finishing as the Chief Marketing Officer. He retired from his marketing career in January 2020 and, later that year, took charge of WSU women’s soccer at age 65.

The next hire will become the fifth head coach in the program’s history. Internally, former WSU player Kendra Smith, who was a four-time All-Big Sky player from 2011-14, has been on staff since 2019.

Head coaching hires are conducted by a hiring committee that includes the athletic director, senior athletics staff, the university vice president over athletics, and the athletics faculty representative.