FSU officially announces Martin Jr. as head coach
4:45 p.m update: As first reported by Warchant.com on Friday morning, FSU has announced that Mike Martin Jr. will succeed his father as the baseball program's head coach. Press release can be found at the bottom
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Several months after launching what it described as a national search, Florida State's administration appears to have found its next head baseball coach.
Veteran assistant coach Mike Martin Jr., who has served on his father's coaching staff for more than 20 years, is expected to be named to take over the program, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation.
He replaces Mike Martin Sr., who officially retired following the Seminoles' loss in the College World Series earlier this week.
Martin Jr. has long been considered the favorite for the job and is believed to have beaten out other candidates with Florida State ties, including Kansas City Royals assistant Pedro Grifol and North Carolina-Greensboro head coach Link Jarrett. Chipola College coach Jeff Johnson was also believed to be a finalist.
** Clark: Martin Jr. opens up about potential of being next FSU head coach **
The expected hiring means that a Martin will lead the Florida State's program for more than four decades. Martin Sr. finished his 40-year tenure with 2,029 career victories -- the most by any coach in any NCAA sport.
The hiring of Mike Martin Jr. could be announced as early as today.
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PRESS RELEASE: TALLAHASSEE – Longtime Florida State assistant coach Mike Martin, Jr. has been named the ninth head baseball coach in FSU history. Florida State Director of Athletics David Coburn made the announcement Friday, elevating Martin to the head role that his father held for 40 years before him. Martin becomes the first new head baseball coach the Seminoles have hired since 1980.
“I have every confidence Mike Martin Jr. will carry on the winning tradition of Florida State University baseball,” said FSU President John Thrasher. “For more than two decades as an assistant coach, he has shown he is a talented recruiter, passionate competitor and respected mentor to our student-athletes. While Mike Martin Jr. brings his own strengths and style of coaching to the program, his values, integrity and love for this university will carry on the proud legacy of his father.”
“I want to thank President John Thrasher and Director of Athletics David Coburn for entrusting me with this special program,” said Martin. “I'm very honored and humbled to be able to lead Florida State. It's been a privilege to serve at this great University for the past 22 years and I'm excited to extend FSU's 70-year history of success moving forward.”
Martin has spent all 22 years as an assistant coach at his alma mater, focusing on hitting and recruiting. The former All-American catcher for the Seminoles has compiled eight straight Top 10 recruiting classes, while his offenses have a combined .300 batting average since 1998. Florida State has made the postseason and won at least 40 games every year under Martin, with eight College World Series appearances, 17 NCAA super regionals and six Atlantic Coast Conference titles.
“After serving under one of the all-time greats, we will combine much of what was learned from him with our new staff's style and ideas in our pursuit of championships,” added Martin.
Martin has coached 16 Major Leaguers, 16 freshman All-Americans, 21 first team All-Americans and 41 student-athletes who have earned first, second or third team All-America accolades. In all, 77 Seminoles have earned All-ACC honors and 65 hitters have been selected in the Major League Baseball draft during that stretch.
Martin has coached four Seminole hitters that captured National Player of the Year honors - Shane Robinson, Tony Thomas, Buster Posey and James Ramsey.
Prior to joining Florida State’s staff, Martin was FSU’s starting catcher from 1993-95, leading FSU to the College World Seriesin 1994 and 1995. He was drafted out of college by San Diego in the ninth round in 1995. Before coming to Florida State, Martin played high school ball at the Maclay School in Tallahassee and at Manatee Community College in 1992.
“We are very excited to have Mike Martin, Jr. leading our baseball program into the future,” said Coburn. “His commitment to, passion for and experience with the Seminole program are second to none.
“His plan for the next era of Seminole baseball is impressive. He knows what he wants to do and how he wants to do it. Aftertraveling with this team for the last three and a half weeks, I have come away very impressed with his relationships with the players, his attention to detail and his understanding of the great game of college baseball.”
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