By Marcus Hill, Special to GoThunderWolves.com

PUEBLO -- Coaching your child in a sport is a tough responsibility and an emotional experience. Coaching alongside them is a completely different challenge.

CSU-Pueblo baseball coach Stan Sanchez is getting the pleasure of getting to coach along with his son Mike Sanchez this season, both trying to lead the ThunderWolves toward its first RMAC Tournament championship since 2009 this weekend.

The literal long ride began in June of 1993 when Stan moved his family to Pueblo when Mike was six years old. Stan took the open position for the then-University of Southern Colorado Indians in its inaugural season. Mike began getting acquainted with baseball and the program at Pueblo.

"I was a young whipper-snapper running around with all the baseball players," Mike said while laughing. "I was always (at CSU-Pueblo) bugging players. It was like home to me."

While his dad was building a winning baseball program at CSU-Pueblo, Mike began making his name down the road at East High School. Mike earned multiple awards such as all-conference in football, basketball and baseball, and East High School Male Athlete of the year his senior year.

His successful career at East left Mike with a tough decision about deciding where to go for college. He received offers from junior colleges in Arizona as well as Colorado for basketball and football. However, after much consideration and thought, Mike decided to stick with what his heart wanted.

"I would have loved to have played basketball but I chose baseball at (CSU)Pueblo," Mike said. "I saw so many people come through the program and I wanted to be part of that history."

The choice to become a ThunderWolf meant that Mike would get the opportunity to play for his father.  But a father coaching his son has its own sets of unique struggles that both had to contend with.

"When you're the coach's son, things are intensified for you and him," Mike said. "People on the outside don't think you belong. But I didn't let the distractions get to me."

Stan added that watching your child play sports is already a difficult task. Being a coach as well as a father is even trickier.

"Coaching your son is difficult, especially at the college level," Stan said. "You have to take a professional approach and you can't make emotional decisions.

"There's so much failure with baseball. You have to become a baseball psychologist."

Both Mike and Stan experienced the ups and downs of baseball in 2008 when the team struggled to a 25-31 record during Mike's sophomore season. It was the second-worst finish for the Pack since it reinstatement in 1994.

The following season, the Pack bounced back to a 41-22 record and won the RMAC tournament. It was the best finish for the Pack in five seasons.  And Stan got to see his son set a national record, establishing himself as the toughest batter to strike out in all of Division II.  

"One of the most important things my dad taught me is that this game will always humble you no matter how good you think you are," Mike said. "You have to remain humble."

Mike and Stan both said they understand you have to have a strong relationship to get through the hardships of playing for your dad and coaching your son. Neither would let this ruin their relationship.

"I love my dad and I respect him," Mike said. "I especially like being around the game with him."

After starting four years for the ThunderWolves and setting various fielding records, Mike decided to follow in his Dad's footsteps and start coaching. Mike coached at his alma mater, East High School. The change from player to coach hasn't been a difficult transition, but he did say it was different.

"When you're a player, you only focus on your job," Mike said. "As a coach, you focus on everything. Sometimes you have kids that are squirrely and it's hard to keep the team focused."

The experience of coaching at East helped prepare Mike to coach this season with his dad. Mike's experience at second base has been a factor with the players and their performance this season with him coaching third base.

"Mike's really been building relationships with the players and has look good," Mike said. "He's been solid so far."   

The ThunderWolves have earned a 28-19 regular season record and are a two-seed in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament.  The overall effort of the team is something that Mike his dad has preached for years.

"It's never about you," Mike said. "It's always about the team."

Both are happy to have the opportunity to coach with one another and minus a few unexpected losses, are pleased with the team's performance this season.  It is unknown how long Mike will be a coach on the baseball staff, but he has the support of his father no matter what his future holds.

"When I go off in the sunset, I'll follow him no matter what he does," Stan said. "I'm looking forward to when he takes over his own program. I'll there to support him no matter what."