ELON, N.C. - Elon head men’s basketball coach Matt Matheny has announced the hiring of Monty Sanders as the Director of Basketball Operations for the 2010-2011 season. A 2009 Elon graduate and former captain of the Phoenix basketball team, Sanders returns to his alma mater after serving as an assistant boys’ varsity basketball coach at Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh and the head coach of the Garner Road Basketball Club AAU 15U boys’ team. In his new role, Sanders will be in charge of coordinating team travel, updating the recruiting database, coordinating film exchange, maintaining equipment and overseeing student managers for the Phoenix.

“We are very excited to have Monty Sanders as a part of our staff,” said Matheny. “Monty loves Elon and his knowledge of not only the school and the basketball program, but the Elon community, makes him a valuable addition to our team.”

Sanders was a two-year letter winner on the Phoenix basketball team, serving as a team captain his senior year. He averaged 5.4 points and 2.9 rebounds per game in two seasons at Elon after transferring from the University of Richmond following the 2005-2006 campaign. Sanders scored a career-high 21 points while adding nine rebounds in a 2009 Southern Conference Tournament victory over Wofford.

“My time as a student-athlete at Elon was one of the best times of my life,” commented Sanders. “I’m extremely excited to be back in this community and working with the program that I poured my blood, sweat and tears into.”

Sanders served as a leader away from the basketball court at Elon as well, serving on the Student Athlete Advisory Council from 2007-2009. He was the brainchild behind the annual “Phoenix Field Day” for inner city youth of Burlington, a program that has continued to be successfully run by Elon student-athletes. Sanders graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Concentration in Marketing.

“I couldn't have asked for a better opportunity in a better place, and I’m extremely lucky to have the opportunity to learn under such a great staff,” said Sanders. “Coach Matheny has the ball rolling on something special here at Elon and I can't wait to contribute.”