Sanders Feature on WBNG-TV
Sanders Testimonials
Sanders leading mbb charge
Get to Know Levell Sanders
Listen to Sanders interview on "Left Coast Pirates Live" podcast (March 7, 2021)
here (begin at 5:30 mark)
Coming off three seasons of rising win totals and program progress, Levell Sanders begins his fourth year as head coach in 2024-25.
Sanders’ 2023-24 team earned its highest win total (15) in 15 years and finished conference play by winning seven of its last 11 games. Binghamton averaged more than 2,200 fans, good for second in the America East. That average home attendance was higher than 15 other NCAA Division I conferences across the country.
His 2022-23 squad closed a building season with the program’s second straight semifinal berth and third in the last four tournament appearances. Binghamton posted another tournament road upset, this time knocking out UMBC 67-65 in Baltimore. The Bearcats enjoyed their highest conference win percentage in 13 years and its final America East place (T-4th) was the highest in 14 years.
In his first season at the helm after being promoted from assistant coach, Sanders led the Bearcats to a berth in the America East semifinals after the team was picked to finish last. Along the way, his team achieved the program’s highest conference win total in 12 years and had a winning conference road record for the first time in 13 years.
After the season, Sanders was one of 15 finalists for the 2022 Joe B. Hall Award, presented annually to the top first-year coach in Division I college basketball. The 2021-22 Bearcats (12-17, 8-10 America East) led the America East in rebounding and 3-point defense and ranked second in field goal percentage defense and blocked shots. Of the team’s losses, six were by five or fewer points or in overtime. Binghamton reached the semifinals with a riveting 72- 69 road win over third-seeded New Hampshire in the quarterfinals.
Sanders, 47, was hired in June 2019 and worked two seasons as an assistant coach before being promoted to head coach on March 1, 2021.
A Brooklyn native, he returned to the states after a noteworthy coaching career in the Czech Republic. For five years, he coached BK JIP Pardubice, leading the team to the elimination rounds of the 2017 FIBA Europe Cup and being named All-Czech Republic League Coach of the Year. His teams won at an 84 percent clip and captured bronze medals in the KNBL Czech League three straight years between 2015-18. Sanders was selected to be a member of the coaching staff of the Czech Republic U18 National Team that competed at the 2017 European Championships.
As a player, Sanders scored 1,399 career points at Seton Hall before embarking on a successful 15-year professional career overseas. With the Pirates, Sanders averaged 12.4 points in 113 games and was named second team All-BIG EAST in 1998. A BIG EAST academic all-star, he graduated in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
His pro basketball accolades include being named the All-Czech Republic League Guard of the Year in 2007 as well as being a two-time first team all-star. He ranks 11th on the all-time leading scorer list in the Czech Republic.
Sanders holds a strong reputation for player development and is the author of a book, “A Guide to Playing Professional Basketball Overseas.”
Levell and his wife, Pamela, live in Binghamton with their daughters Olivia and Stella.
