June 24, 2006

Alabama A&M assistant football coach Jay Martin has added to his duties at the institution. Martin, who is in his entering his fifth season as the linebackers coach for the football program, will serve as the next head baseball coach at AAMU. Martin replaces Thomas Wesley in leading the Bulldog baseball program.

Martin served as an assistant baseball coach at Tuskegee University under his father, Jim Martin, who is the former director of athletics at AAMU. While at Tuskegee, the elder Martin led the Golden Tigers to 10 SIAC titles. Jay Martin was with him for two of those title seasons. He also served as an assistant softball coach at South Carolina State before moving to Alabama A&M.

Martin says he knows how to build a successful program. One of his additional duties with the football program has been recruiting coordinator. It is a duty he will now give up to coach baseball, but his local and regional contacts at high schools and junior colleges will prove invaluable in establishing contact for the baseball program.

"I have been around the game of baseball my entire life," Martin said. "Working with my dad at Tuskegee I learned what it takes to build a winning program. I have been a winner everywhere I have been."

Martin has already begun his duties with the baseball program trying to finish the recruiting season strong in helping to build next season's team.