Sanders became the line coach for the Trinity University football team in 1946, but the school did not field a team that season due to budgetary limitations.[7] On October 10, 1947, he was named temporary head coach of the team to allow previous head coach and athletic director Bob Coe to spend more time overseeing the entire athletic department.[8] Sanders resigned as head coach on January 4, 1949, and accepted a position as an assistant superintendent of a construction company.[9]
On August 29, 1966, Sanders announced his application to the NFL in a bid to be awarded the ownership of an expansion New Orleans franchise as the 16th NFL team. He said that if the New Orleans franchise were selected and awarded to him, he would enlist 30,000 minority owners and own 52% of the team himself. He was advised by former Chicago Cardinals, Detroit Lions, and Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Buddy Parker.[10] On November 1, 1966, the NFL awarded the 16th franchise to New Orleans.[11]William G. Helis Jr., Herman Lay, John W. Mecom Jr., Louis J. Roussel Jr., Sanders, and Edgar B. Stern Jr. were the six bidders for the franchise.[12] The New Orleans franchise was awarded to Mecom on December 15, 1966, with his winning bid of $8.5 million.[13]
^ abBob Coe served as Trinity's head coach for the three games of the 1947 season before Sanders was promoted from line coach to replace him. The team finished with an overall record of 5–3–2 and a conference mark of 3–2–1.