Mike Martin, the winningest coach in NCAA Division I history, passed away on Thursday, February 1, 2024. While the cause of death was previously unknown, he was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia four years ago, and he unfortunately lost his battle due to its effects. He was 79 at the time of his death.
His 40-year tenure as head baseball coach of the Florida State Seminoles lasted from 1980-2019. Martin achieved a record of 2029-736-4. He helped lead FSU to 19 conference championships, including 11 in the Metropolitan Collegiate Athletic Conference and eight in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Despite reaching the College World Series 17 times, Martin’s teams never managed to win the title once.
Throughout his time as the Seminoles coach, Martin earned Coach of the Year honors 15 times: seven from the ACC, six from the Metro Conference, and two from Baseball America. In 2005, Florida State renamed its baseball field to him to “Mike Martin Field at Dick Howser Stadium” in his honor. In 2019, he was inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame.
Photo Cred: Don Juan Moore/Getty Images
At Florida State, Martin coached over 70 All-Americans, four Golden Spikes winners (awarded to the best amateur baseball player in the US), and two Dick Howser Trophies (awarded to the best college baseball player every year). Notable players under his guidance included Deion Sanders, Jameis Winston, Buster Posey, and J. D. Drew.
In 2018, after a 3-2 victory against Clemson, Martin surpassed legendary Texas baseball coach Augie Garrido for the most wins in college baseball history by any coach.
Hailing from Charlotte, North Carolina, he launched baseball journey as a player in college. Following one year at Wingate Junior College, he transferred to Florida State, where he competed during the 1965 and 1966 seasons. As a center fielder for the Seminoles, he participated in the 1965 College World Series and earned all-district honors as a senior, graduating in 1966. The New York Mets selected him in the 28th round of the 1966 MLB Draft, leading to several years in the minor leagues. Between 1966 and 1967, he played for various of the Mets’ Class A teams (Greenville, Winter Haven, Mankato) before joining the Rocky Mount Leafs in 1968, a Class A team affiliated with the Detroit Tigers. Martin transitioned to coaching in 1970.
After four years of coaching basketball at Tallahassee Community College and Amos High School (FL), he returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach in 1975 before assuming the head coaching position in 1980. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family from us at Sports Radio America. May he rest in peace.
Photo Cred: Seminoles.com
