Head Coach Doug Martin
3/25/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
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Second Season
Kentucky '85
Kent State University head coach Doug Martin enters his second season at the helm of the Golden Flashes football program after a successful debut in 2004. In addition to his head coaching duties, Marting also serves as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
In his first season, the Golden Flashes posted a 5-6 overall record, winning their final four games for the programs longest winning streak since 1976. The team also finished 4-4 and in fourth place in the Mid-American Conference East Division while producing three All-MAC players and two honorable mention All-Americans.
Martin also handled the offensive play-calling duties for the second straight year and the unit responded to his coaching, scoring 335 points and racking up 4,168 yards, the second and third highest totals, respectively, in school history. Under his guidance, the Flashes averaged 30.5 points per game, just the third time in school history a team averaged 30 or more points. The team also set a single-game scoring mark in its 69-17 win over Eastern Michigan Nov. 13.
Four times in 2004 the Flashes totaled more than 400 yards on offense, including two games over 500.
Additionally, in two years tutoring All-MAC quarterback Joshua Cribbs, Martin saw Cribbs develop into one of the top dual threats in the country. Always a talented runner, Cribbs finished his career as the owner of KSU career records for passing yardage and completions. He also ranked fourth nationally in total offense and completed a school-record 64.5 percent of his passes. As a team, the Flashes had a completion rate of 62.8%, also a school record.
While his spread offensive style is his calling card, Martin revamped his defensive coaching staff and saw that unit go from ranking 12th of 14 teams in the MAC in total defense in 2003 to first in the league in 2004. It marked the first time since 1987 that the team led the MAC in total defense and just the second time since joining the conference in 1951. Kent State also ranked 15th nationally in total defense.
Martin was named the schools 19th head coach by Director of Athletics Laing Kennedy on March 1, 2004, replacing Dean Pees, who left to become linebackers coach with the New England Patriots.
>The respect the players have for him as a person and as a coach, plus my own observations, have proven that Doug Martin is very impressive, Kennedy said. He is an individual of high quality and high character and I am confident in his abilities to lead our football program.
Martin joined the Kent State staff in January 2003 as offensive coordinator. In his first year on the staff, Martin made an instant impact on the Golden Flashes offense. In its first season under Martins system, Kent State averaged 26.8 points per game, the second-highest in the last 30 years, and scored 30-or-more points in each of the final six games and did so in a school-record eight games overall.
I am very grateful to Mr. Kennedy and Dr. Cartwright for the opportunity they have given me first as an offensive coordinator and now as the head football coach, Martin said. I believe that we are on the verge of doing something very special for Kent State University with this football program.
Nearly every major offensive category from 2002 to 2004 has incresed Martins tutelage. His teams have averaged nearly 30 points per game in his two seasons and posted the highest offensive totals in back-to-back years in school history.
From 2002 to 2003 alone, scoring offense increased by 10 points, touchdowns grew from 24 to 40, total offense was up by more than 40 yards per game and passing yardage increased by nearly 100 yards per game. Last year that trend continued as the Flashes increased their scoring, touchdowns, passing yards and total yards per game.
What impressed me most about Doug is his vision for the football program and its importance to Kent State University, Director of Athletics Laing Kennedy said. I am very confident in what I call his quiet resolve for excellence. For Doug, anything short of the very best is unacceptable.
At East Carolina, Martin played a significant role in the development of quarterback David Garrard, who broke 28 school passing records and total offensive records from 1998-2001. In addition, Martin coached the top three receivers in ECU history. During Martins time at ECU, the team advanced to five bowl games; the Liberty Bowl in 1994 and 95, the GMAC (formerly Mobile Alabama) Bowl in 1999 and 2001 and the galleryfurniture.com (now Houston) Bowl in 2000.
Prior to joining the staff at East Carolina, Martin was a graduate assistant at the University of Kentucky, his alma mater, from 1986-87 and then spent the 1988-91 seasons at East Tennessee State University, where he coached the running backs his first year, then served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks/wide receivers coach his final three seasons.
Martin was a four-year letterwinner at Kentucky from 1981-84, spending time as a part-time starter at quarterback before injuries limited him to the holder role. A native of Oak Ridge, Tenn., Martin earned a bachelors degree in history from Kentucky in 1985.
Ive been impressed with the quality of Doug Martins character and integrity, and with the way he relates to our student-athletes on and off the field, Kent State President Dr. Carol Cartwright said. I believe Dougs values are in line with those of the university, and that he will provide the leadership to continue moving this program in a positive direction both academically and athletically.
Martin and his wife Vicki have a daughter, Molly, and two sons, Cory and Bobby.
| The Martin File | Seasons | School | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2004-present | Kent State | Head Coach |
| 2003-2004 | Kent State | Offensive Coordinator |
| 1996-2002 | East Carolina | Offensive Coordinator |
| 1992-95 | East Carolina | Assistant |
| 1989-91 | East Tennessee State | Offensive Coordinator |
| 1988 | East Tennessee State | Assistant |
| 1986-87 | Kentucky | Graduate Assistant |
