Jack Martin
Jack Martin (1922-2015)
Current position: Hardin-Simmons Cowboys, Lamar Cardinals
Hardin-Simmons record^: 41-35 (.539)
Lamar record^: 334-283 (.541)
Overall record^: 375-318 (.541)
Career Accomplishments:
- NCAA National Championships: 0
- NCAA Tournament Appearances: 0
- NIT Championships: 0
- NIT Appearances: 0
- Southland Regular Season Champion: 2 (1964, 1970)
- Lone Star (Div II) Regular Season Champion: 3 (1961, 1962, 1963)
- NCAA Division II Tournament Appearances: 5 (1960, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1966)
Awards:
- Southland Coach of the Year: 2 (1969, 1970)
Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):
1951-1976 | Lamar |
1948-1951 | Hardin-Simmons |
Jack Martin Facts
- Jack Tracy Martin
- Born August 15, 1922
- Died October 1, 2015
- Hometown: Burkett, Texas
- Alma Mater: Hardin-Simmons University (BA, 1948)
- Graduated from Burkett HS (TX) and attended John Tarleton Agricultural College where he was in the ROTC
- Enlisted in the US Army Air Corps and flew B-29s in the Pacific Theater during World War II
- After his discharge, he attended Hardin-Simmons in Abilene, TX; played basketball there for two seasons (1946-48)
- He joined the US Army National Guard upon his return to the States, serving for nearly thirty years in Abilene, TX
- Became the Cowboys’ head coach after graduation at the age of 26; led the Cowboys for three seasons
- Went 41-35 overall; the Cowboys were part of the Border Conference at that time
- Left for the Lamar job, taking over what was then a College Division (D-II) program in the Lone Star Conference in 1951
- Coached the Cardinals for 25 seasons, a tenure that included the move from D-II to the Southland and eventually into D-I
- Compiled an overall record of 334-283 at Lamar, winning three Lone Star titles and two Southland titles
- In 1968-69, the Cardinals went 20-4 and achieved a #1 AP ranking (College Division) during the season
- Reached the NCAA College Division Tournament five times in the years before Lamar moved up to the University Division
- Following his retirement from coaching in 1976 (and active service a year early), Col. Martin was promoted to Brevet Brigadier General
- Served various assignments including representing the US Dept. of Defense in foreign countries, Liaison for the Air Force Academy and Civil Service Disaster Relief Operations Coordinator in Southeast Texas
- Passed away in 2015 at the age of 93 in Beaumont, Texas
Jack Martin Coaching Tree
- Billy Tubbs (Lamar, TCU, Oklahoma, Southwestern)
^ overall record includes head coaching positions at both the NCAA University Division (D-I) and College Division (D-II) levels