Meet Diego Sanchez! Diego, also known as “Coach Diego” by his players, is a soccer coach for the Lanier Soccer Association Sharks and a recent University of North Georgia graduate. Diego was born in Campeche, Mexico and moved to the United States soon after he was born. He lived in North Carolina for about three years before moving to Georgia.

In Hall County, Diego attended Chestatee High School, played lef midfield on the soccer team and then and graduated in 2011. He then went to school for civil engineering at Southern Polytechnic State University. Later, Diego transferred to the University of North Georgia majoring in chemistry.

Diego is very involved in his community and loves working to improve the community. He has been coaching soccer for the LSA Sharks since 2013. Some of Diego’s hobbies include playing soccer (although, he is a fan of all sports), watching sports, and playing ultimate frisbee with a league he is apart of in Athens.

“Diego is a roll model for the team and he teaches much more than soccer skills. Teaching how to behave when a game doesn’t go your way is important,” said Christina White, mother of Palmer White who was coached by Diego last year. “I was most impressed that he balanced college and coaching which I think taught the team the value of education.”

We are very thankful to Diego for taking time to sit down with us to talk about his life here in Hall County and to ask him a few questions.

Question: What inspired you or led you to your current career?

Answer: “I helped out with a team two years after I graduated high school. Also the old Lanier director contacted me about LSA.”

Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Hall County, and what do you love there?

A: “Wild Wings Cafe, it sounds kind of girly but I like the crazy daisy wings.”

Q: How long have you lived or worked in Hall County?

A: “I’m 23 now, and have lived here since I was about 3 or 4.”

Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in Hall County?

A: “My high school cross country coach and art teacher, Michael Hughes. Everyone called him ‘Crazy Hughes.'”

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be? And why?

A: “Germany, because I have always wanted to go there and I took three years of German in high school as well as another three years in college.”

Q: What is your favorite movie?

A: “I couldn’t pick between all the superhero movies, but I am looking forward to the new ‘Thor’ movie.”

Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people?

A: “Try to get involved in your community, it is a great way to meet new and interesting people.”

Interview by: Mason Roland

The Faces of Hall County is a project to showcase the amazing people that live or work in our community. If you would like to nominate an interesting person to be featured please email babernathy@gonorton.com