David Sanford is an accomplished lacrosse coach, program leader, and player development specialist with decades of experience developing athletes and building successful programs at the club, high school, and collegiate levels. Known for his ability to establish strong cultures and guide athletes toward reaching their full potential, Sanford has earned a reputation as one of the leading developers of lacrosse talent in the western United States.
Sanford holds several leadership roles within True Lacrosse, one of the premier club lacrosse organizations in the country. He serves as Senior Director of True Oregon and Territory Manager for Colorado, where he oversees regional program development, coaching leadership, and athlete pathways across multiple markets. Sanford also serves as Director of the Elite True West Program, where he leads the development of top players from across the western United States and helps guide the program’s competitive and developmental strategy. In addition, he is a coach within the True Lacrosse National Team program, working with elite athletes competing on the national stage while helping prepare players for collegiate opportunities. Currently he is the Head Coach of the 2027 White Team.
In these roles, Sanford works closely with athletes and families throughout the recruiting process while focusing on the technical, tactical, and mental development required to succeed at the highest levels of the sport. His work has helped many players advance to compete in collegiate lacrosse programs across the country.
Sanford also serves as Head Coach of the Central Catholic High School boys lacrosse program in Portland, Oregon, where he leads all aspects of the program including player development, team culture, and competitive strategy. In his first season, Sanford transformed the program from a team that had won just two games the previous year into a team that finished 11–7 and advanced to the second round of the state playoffs. His coaching philosophy centers on building disciplined, high-IQ teams that compete with toughness, accountability, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
Earlier in his coaching career, Sanford worked at the collegiate level, serving as Head Coach at Portland State University and as an Assistant Coach at Oregon State University, where he helped guide the development of student-athletes while contributing to the growth of collegiate lacrosse in the Pacific Northwest.
A defining feature of Sanford’s career has been his ability to build strong developmental environments for athletes. Over the course of his coaching career he has worked with hundreds of players and helped many advance to play collegiate lacrosse at the Division I, II, and III levels. His approach to player development emphasizes fundamentals, lacrosse IQ, competitive mindset, and leadership—ensuring that athletes leave his programs prepared to succeed at the next level.
Sanford is widely respected not only for his technical knowledge of the game but also for his ability to build culture and develop leaders. His programs emphasize discipline, teamwork, work ethic, and resilience, creating environments where athletes are challenged to improve every day while supporting their teammates.
Originally from Baltimore, one of the traditional lacrosse hotbeds of the United States, Sanford developed a deep appreciation for the history and values of the game early in his playing career. He later attended Tulane University, where he continued to develop the leadership skills that would shape his future as a coach and mentor.
Today, Sanford continues to focus on what has defined his coaching career: building programs, mentoring athletes and coaches, and helping players reach their highest potential both on and off the field.
