Diana ‘Deedee’ Alexander (formerly Sanguinetti) was named the head women's soccer coach at Newberry College in January 2014 after serving the program as an assistant coach for two years.

Alexander led the Wolves to their fourth consecutive seven win season in 2019, finishing the year with a 7-7-3 record. The season was highlighted by a three-match win streak that saw Newberry beat Corker (3-0), Mars Hill (2-1) and Converse (4-0). The Wolves qualified for the South Atlantic Conference Tournament for the fourth time in her tenure. Daphne Heyaime was named to the SAC All-Conference second-team, while Jacqueline Aldrete and Emma harms were both named Honorable Mentions. 

In 2018, Alexander coached the Wolves to their third consecutive season with seven or more wins. Alexander coached an All-SAC Second Team honoree and United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-South Third Team selection in Daphne Heyaime. 

In 2021, her eighth season at the helm, Alexander coached Newberry to their sixth seven-win season. The Wolves won seven of their last 10 games and clinched a SAC Tournament berth where they faced no. 9 Catawba in the first round. At the conclusion of the 2021 campaign, Courtney Velazquez was selected to the all-conference second team as a defender.

Alexander came to Newberry from the University of San Diego, where she helped the Toreros win their first West Coast Conference title and aided USD in a run to the round of 16 in the 2011 Women’s College Cup.

Prior to joining the coaching staff at USD, Alexander was a member of the staff at Kansas Wesleyan University where KWU won multiple conference titles and reached the round of 16 in the NAIA national tournament. Alexander previously served as a volunteer assistant at Cal State-Northridge and as an athlete recruiter for Nike’s Velocity Sports Performance program.

Before reaching the coaching ranks, Alexander wrapped up her playing career as a member of the Pepperdine women’s soccer team. At Pepperdine, Alexander started as a center defender on one of the top ranked defenses in the country. As a junior the Argentine national team scouted Alexander, before she graduated from Pepperdine with a degree in Psychology and Child Education.

Alexander joined the nationally ranked Waves after beginning her collegiate career at Long Beach State. As a freshman Alexander was named first team All-Big West and despite battling injuries as a sophomore was named honorable mention All-Big West her second season.

Born and raised in Connecticut, Alexander has played soccer since she was a youth. Her prestigious Yankee United Heat club team won seven Connecticut state championships and twice Alexander was named MVP. Yankee United Heat won regionals twice and once was the national champion.

After moving to California, Alexander joined the Hart High School soccer team and also the Valley United Stars 83 club side. At Hart, Alexander was a four-year varsity starter and team captain, while being named first team all-conference on three occasions and twice earning first team All-California Interscholastic Federation. In 1999 Hart HS won the California state title.

In the club ranks, Alexander captained Valley United Stars 83, a club side that won two regional championships and 57 tournament championships. A one-time regional tournament MVP, Sanguinetti finished her time with Valley United Stars 83 with a team record of 413-48 with 315 team shutouts.

Alexander is married to Newberry Associate Athletic Director Wayne Alexander. They have one child, Luli.

ALEXANDER YEAR-BY-YEAR

2014

Newberry $ # %

10-5-4

.632

2015

Newberry %

5-10-2

.353

2016

Newberry %

7-11-1

.395

2017

Newberry %

7-11

.389

2018

Newberry

7-9-1

.441

2019

Newberry %

7-7-3

.500

2020 *Covid

Newberry

4-4

.500

2021

Newberry

7-11

.389

Career

8 Seasons

54-68-11

.406

$  = SAC Coach of the Year

#  = ECAC Division II Tournament

% = SAC Tournament