Sanford spent 2017-18 as the head coach at Western Kentucky. Utah State rushed for 18 touchdowns and threw for 22, as it won seven games in its first year with Sanford calling the offense. The Aggies averaged 29.23 points per game under Sanford and displayed a balanced offense as they averaged 431.1 yards per game (279.08 passing yards per game and 152.2 rushing yards per game). Sanford came to Minnesota from Utah State where he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2019. He led Big Ten in the following categories: rushing attempts (201), rushing yards (1,076), rushing yards per game (153.7), rushing touchdowns (15), scoring (90), points per game (12.9) and all-purpose yards per game (168.4). Ibrahim rushed 201 times (25th most in school single-season history) for 1,076 yards (23rd most in school single season-history) and 15 touchdowns (most ever for a junior at Minnesota and ranks fourth in school-single season history) in the COVID-19 shortened season. He tied school records in most rushing touchdowns in a game (4), most rushing touchdowns in a first half (4), most rushing touchdowns in one half (4) and consecutive 200-yard rushing games (2). Ibrahim was named the 2020 Big Ten Running Back of the Year and was an AP Third-Team All-American, as he set school records in season rushing yards per game (153.7), consecutive 100-yard rushing games (8) and touchdowns in consecutive games (8).

In 2020, his first with the Gophers, Sanford oversaw an offense that was powered by running back Mohamed Ibrahim. Sanford has more than 15 years of collegiate coaching experience on his resume, including two years as a head coach at Western Kentucky.

He serves as Minnesota’s offensive coordinator and also coaches the quarterbacks. joined the Minnesota coaching staff in January 2020.

Most consecutive 200 yard passing games