Waves’ Sanchez Takes Permanent Leave

Pepperdine baseball coach Frank Sanchez is taking a permanent medical leave effective immediately, the university announced Thursday.

Associate athletic director Michael Zapolski declined to comment on the nature of Sanchez’s medical leave, citing privacy laws.

In August 1998, Sanchez underwent his third brain operation to remove a benign tumor and returned to work at Pepperdine nine weeks later. He had similar procedures performed in 1985 and 1990.

“It’s just ongoing and current health issues,” Sanchez said. “I don’t think I’m going to get back into coaching. It’s a long-term deal.”

When asked if his health was in imminent danger, Sanchez, 50, said with a chuckle, “Hey, I’m not dying. At least not yet.

“Very seldom does a coach get to walk away on his own terms. I can look in the mirror and really feel I did a good job.”

Sanchez led the Waves to a 257-161 record and five consecutive conference divisional titles during his seven seasons as head coach. The Waves advanced to the NCAA tournament three times -- in 1999, 2001 and 2003 -- and won the West Coast Conference championship in 2001. Pepperdine never finished worse than second in the conference during his tenure.

Sanchez is the WCC’s leader in career victories and had the highest winning percentage among active coaches in conference play.

Before going to Pepperdine, he was Mike Gillespie’s top assistant at USC from 1987 to 1996.