Entering his 16th year at the helm of St. Mary’s Women’s Basketball team in 2021-22, Martens has led the Rattlers to five national tournament appearances and is the program’s all-time winningest coach with a mark of 262-154.
| THE MARTENS FILE |
College: Bethel College (2000)
Hometown: Haven, Kan.
Experience: 16th Year (all at St. Mary's) |
| HONORS |
Heartland Conference Coach of the Year
2007-08 |
| YEAR-BY-YEAR REVIEW |
|
| Year |
Record |
Highlights |
| 2006-07 |
12-16 |
|
| 2007-08 |
25-5 |
Heartland Conference Champions |
| |
|
South Central Regional |
| 2008-09 |
24-6 |
Heartland Conference Champions |
| |
|
South Central Regional |
| 2009-10 |
22-8 |
Heartland Conference Champions |
| |
|
South Central Regional |
| 2010-11 |
15-12 |
|
| 2011-12 |
13-16 |
|
| 2012-13 |
22-7 |
Heartland Conf. Tourn. Champions |
| |
|
South Central Regional |
| 2013-14 |
20-10 |
NCAA D-II Tournament Round of 32 |
| 2014-15 |
16-11 |
|
| 2015-16 |
18-10 |
|
| 2016-17 |
21-7 |
|
| 2017-18 |
16-13 |
|
| 2018-19 |
18-10 |
|
| 2019-20 |
14-14 |
Lone Star Co-Divisional Champions |
| 2020-21 |
6-9 |
Season cut short due to Covid-19 |
| |
|
|
| Total |
|
|
| 15 Yrs. |
262-154 |
4-Time Conference Champion |
| |
|
5 Regional Appearances |
Despite the 2020-21 season being shortened due to the pandemic, Martens had the Rattlers playing their best ball at the end of the year, where they won five of the last seven regular season games to earn a bid to the Lone Star Tournament. The team lost to eventual national champion Lubbock Christian in the opening round, but Hannah Wilson was the only player in the league to average a double-double with 14.7 points and 10.7 rebounds a contest. She earned Lone Star All-Conference and All-Defensive Team honors.
Martens led the Rattlers to a 14-14 finish and a Lone Star Conference Co-Divisional Championship during the 2019-20 season -- the team's first in the conference. St. Mary's defeated Cameron in the opening round of the LSC Tournament to advance, falling to No. 10 Texas A&M Commerce to end the season. Soteria Banks and Hannah Wilson each earned All-Conference honors. Banks, who led the team in scoring at 16.9 points per game was named a WBCA All-American.
He was selected to the WBCA Board of Directors, where he has served as the NCAA Division II Rule Liaison to the Board. Martens was one of just three D-II coaches chosen.
The 2018-19 Rattlers were 18-10 and advanced to the semifinals of the Heartland Conference Tournament for the fourth-straight season. One of the most thrilling moments of the program’s history came on Nov. 23 when the Gold and Blue defeated #1 Central Missouri 101-97 in double overtime. The Jennies were the defending national champions and the Rattlers took them down in the opening round of the annual St. Mary’s Thanksgiving Classic.
Despite being riddled by injuries, the 2017-18 club played in the semifinals of the Heartland Conference Tournament and finished 16-13 overall.
The 2016-17 team topped the 20-win plateau for the sixth time in Martens career and they finished second in the Heartland Conference regular season, falling in the semifinals of the tournament for the second-straight year.
Eventual national champion Lubbock Christian ended the 2015-16 team’s run in the semifinals of the Heartland Conference Tournament. The Rattlers were 18-10 overall and 11-7 in conference play after having two winning streaks of five games or better during the year.
In 2014-15, the Martens coached All-American and Heartland Conference Player of the Year Morgan Pullins, who helped lead St. Mary's to a Heartland Conference Tournament appearance with a 16-11 record on the season. Pullins became the third All-American coached by Martens at St. Mary's, and his first pupil to be named the league's top player.
The 2013-14 season was a special one for Martens as his Rattlers advanced to the South Central Region Tournament for the second straight season after a heartbreaking overtime loss in the Heartland Conference Championship game. Entering the regional tournament as the No. 5 seed, Martens earned his first career regional win with a 63-57 victory over No. 4-seeded Colorado State-Pueblo. The win tied the program’s furthest postseason run, giving the team a 20-10 record.
In 2012-13, Martens and the Rattlers posted a 22-7 overall record and 10-2 conference record and claimed their fourth conference title under Martens, advancing to the NCAA Regional Tournament also for the fourth time. The Rattlers fell by just three points in the first round of Regional Tournament, losing to Metropolitan State University of Denver, 58-55.
Jackie Woods, who exploded in her first year for the Rattlers, came into her second season primed for success in 2012-13. Martens oversaw Woods become his second All-American as she earned honorable mention after averaging 15.8 points per game. Woods was named All-Conference First Team for the second straight season as well as earned Conference Tournament MVP. Senior Felicia Jacobs earned the program’s first Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
In 2009-10, the Rattlers went 22-8, earning their third straight 20-plus-win season under Martens. They also won the Heartland Conference Championship title and advanced to the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament for the third-straight year.
The Rattlers rocketed into the top-25 nationally during 2007-08 season, posting a 25-5 record, a 24-game win streak, and won the Heartland Conference regular season and postseason championships. The Rattlers earned an at-large berth in the NCAA South Central Region Tournament. Martens was named Heartland Conference Coach of Year, while Natalie Gamez was named Heartland Conference Player of the Year and Mallory Moeller earned Heartland Conference Freshman of the Year.
In his first season as head coach, Martens led the Rattlers to 12 wins and a berth in the Heartland Conference Tournament semifinals. St. Mary's overcame a slow start to win 11 of its last 18 games and qualify for the HC Tournament. Two Rattlers were named All-Heartland Conference: Natalie Gamez and Charlena Rodez.
Prior to taking over the program prior to the 2006-07 season, Martens was with the Rattler women's basketball program for three years as an assistant coach under Paige Clawson. He helped the program produce 46 wins, a Heartland Conference Championship and a berth into the NCAA Division II Regional Tournament. Nine Rattlers were named All-Heartland Conference over those three seasons. Martens oversaw recruiting, assisted with scheduling and assisted with scouting while serving as an assistant coach for two years at St. Mary's.
Martens served as assistant women's basketball coach at Lamar University in Beaumont for two seasons before joining the Rattlers’ staff. He also was an assistant men's basketball coach at Bethel College in North Newton, Kan., for two years.
Martens graduated from Bethel College in 2000 with two bachelor of science degrees, one in business administration and one in accounting. He received his master's of public administration degree from Lamar University in 2003. As an athlete, he earned all-conference and academic all-conference honors in football at Bethel. He also competed in basketball and track and field at the school. Before transferring to Bethel, he was a junior college All-American in track and field at Hutchison (Kan.) Community College.
Martens is married to the former DonLouise Meyer and they have two children, Jaden and Alexis.
