Title: Executive Director

Email: coachkarensanders@gmail.com

School: Valley View High School, (Jonesboro, Ar)

Bio:

Karen Sanders is beginning her 26th year in the education profession and currently serves as the head softball coach and assistant tennis coach at Valley View. With 17 years of experience as head softball coach and 2 years as an assistant, Karen has built a successful and diverse coaching career grounded in passion and leadership. She began in coaching journey in basketball but found her true calling softball in 2004 while at Nettleton.

Karen is the Executive Director of the AHSFCA, and is actively involved in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), where she continues to advocate for the advancement of the sport and its coaches.

Before arriving at Valley View, her career took her to Lockesburg, Pulaski Oak Grove, Wynne, Nettleton and Brookland. Her broad coaching resume includes basketball, cross country, track, cheer, tennis, volleyball and softball. Her accolades include: 2 State Championships and 2 State Runner Up finishes in softball, 2 State Championships and 3 State Runner Ups in volleyball, 1 State Championship in tennis.

A graduate of Arkansas High School, Karen earned her BSE from Bartlesville Wesleyan College (now Oklahoma Wesleyan University), where she was a dual-sport athlete in basketball and softball in 2022, she completed her Master's Degree in Sports Administration from Arkansas State University.

Karen finds her greatest joy in her family-her husband for 22 years, Anthony, and their son, Jacob. In her downtime, she enjoys fishing, family vacations, and spending quality time with loved ones.