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