'The right time': Kevin Martin steps down as Westerville Central boys basketball coach
Kevin Martin accomplished his goals as Westerville Central boys basketball coach, building a perennial power that came within one basket of winning a state title in 2021.
After six seasons, Martin decided it was time for a change. He has stepped down to focus on son Devin’s pending college basketball career at Wheaton in Illinois and to watch daughter Ella play for the Central girls team.
“It was something I fought within myself a little bit with my competitive nature of coaching and always trying to get back to that mountaintop of success,” Martin said. “But I told myself a long time ago if I was still coaching when I was 50 years old, I don’t know what I would do.
“I’m 48 and it just seemed like the right time with my daughter only being a sophomore, and I’ve missed so much of her stuff. It’s time to be a dad again. My son is going off to college and it just felt like the right time for a transition in the program.”
Martin announced his decision in a post Tuesday on his X account.
The highlight of Martin’s tenure was Central’s run to the Division I state final three years ago. The Warhawks lost to Centerville 43-42.
Central went 16-8 this winter, losing to Hilliard Bradley 64-62 in a district final.
The Warhawks were 88-56 under Martin.
“We had a good year this year,” he said. “I have all the faith in the world of whoever gets (the job) is going to continue the success that we’ve built for the last six years.”
Thank you! To new beginnings… 🙏 pic.twitter.com/ye2708Rj36
— Kevin Martin (@12kmart) April 16, 2024
Another highlight for Martin was coaching Devin, a senior, during his four years in the program.
“It was a special four years that goes by way too fast,” Martin said. “There were some difficult moments mixed in, but I wouldn’t change anything to have had the opportunity to coach him.”
Devin said “it’s been the biggest blessing” to play for his father.
“We had some rough days, but overall getting the experience of doing what we love together, which not many people get to experience with their dad, has been amazing.”
Before taking over at Central, Martin coached Johnstown for 10 seasons, leading the Johnnies to a Division III district title in 2016 and a 153-81 record.
“I would have never dreamed 16 years ago when I took that job at Johnstown that I’d ever have the opportunity to coach in a state final,” Martin said.
Kevin Martin played for Ohio State, North Carolina-Asheville
A 1994 graduate of Westerville North, Martin helped the Warriors win the Division I state title as a senior.
He played at Ohio State for one season before transferring to North Carolina-Asheville, where he averaged 16.6 points, was a two-time first-team all-Big South Conference selection and earned conference Player of the Year honors in 1999.
Martin then played professionally in Finland and Honduras before serving as an assistant at Radford University in Virginia as well as at UNC-Asheville.
He and his wife, Jen, also have a 13-year-old daughter, Bryn. Martin works for Talon Title Agency.
“When you’re at a program like Westerville Central with the success that we’ve had, it’s hard on a family with as much time and effort that we put into it,” Martin said. “I’ve had the best support system that anyone can ask for, but I have to take a step back and look at how much I owe them for all the years that they’ve stuck by my side and give them more of not only my time but give them more of me.”
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Westerville Central high school basketball coach Kevin Martin resigns
