Mark Sander, currently the athletic director at Iroquois High School and a former football coach at DeSales, has been named the new football coach at Bullitt East.

Sander went 76-47 in 10 seasons (2002-11) as the football coach at DeSales before being fired in February of 2012. He also was the head coach at Iroquois for two seasons (2012-13), posting an 8-11 record.

Sander said he will continue as Iroquois’ AD through the end of this school year. He said the Bullitt East position was attractive because his mother lives about 15 minutes from the school in Spencer County.

“I didn’t apply for anything else,” Sander said. “This is a tough decision because I’m loyal to people. I’m not one to pick up and move and go all over God’s green earth like some people do. That’s not me. This decision was a big family decision.”

Bullitt East principal Willie Foster announced Sander’s hiring in an email Thursday morning.

“Mark’s presence and passion for the game are quite impressive,” Foster wrote. “I am excited for coach Sander and the young men in our community.”

Sander replaces Darrell Vincent, who stepped down in December after posting a 29-28 record in five seasons. The Chargers finished 3-8 in 2015.

Sander is a 1986 DeSales graduate who went on to play football at the University of Louisville from 1987-90. He still ranks as the school’s all-time leading tackler with 488.

“I know Bullitt East is a great community,” Sander said. “They have a lot of tough-nosed kids who play the game of football.”

Jason Frakes can be reached at (502) 582-4046 and jfrakes@courier-journal.com.