Starting from scratch, Sanville quickly developed Warner Pacific Wrestling into a premiere NAIA program. His athletes were known throughout the region as fierce competitors, with teams enjoying success at both the district and national levels. Under Sanville’s guidance from 1968-75, the Knights amassed an impressive 58-30-3 record in dual-match competition. During his tenure at Warner Pacific, Sanville coached 35 individuals to qualify for the NAIA National Wrestling Championships, and saw one wrestler named NAIA All-American. Sanville’s leadership on the mat was honored publicly when he was awarded NAIA District 2 Coach of the Year in 1974.
After leaving Warner Pacific, Sanville continued to coach in the high school ranks for many years, including eight years at Bend High School (1976-84), and 17 years at West Linn High School (1984-2001). His teams at West Linn were particularly successful, winning 10 district championships and sending 124 wrestlers to the Oregon State Championships. Coach Sanville’s countless contributions to the sport of wrestling in Oregon were recognized with his election to the Oregon Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and the West Linn High School Athletics Hall of Fame.
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