Coaching Profiles - Wille Martinez

#1

UT = Checkmate

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#1
Per AuburnTigers


Willie Martinez, who has more than 20 years of experience on the collegiate level, including nine years in the Southeastern Conference, is in his first year as the defensive backs coach at Auburn.

Martinez spent the previous two seasons as the secondary coach at Oklahoma after spending nine seasons at Georgia, where he was the secondary coach from 2001-04 and defensive coordinator and secondary coach from 2005-09.

In his two seasons at Oklahoma, Martinez helped the program to a 22-5 record and a Big 12 championship in 2010. The Sooners were eighth in the country in pass efficiency defense in 2010, while Martinez coached safety Quinton Carter, who was a consensus All-American. In 2011, Oklahoma led the Big 12 in scoring defense.

While at Georgia, Martinez was part of a staff that led the Bulldogs to 90 victories, two Southeastern Conference championships, three SEC Eastern Division titles, seven bowl victories and six Top 10 finishes in the final national polls, including No. 2 in 2007 and No. 3 in 2002.

His 2007 defense at Georgia finished first in the SEC and eighth nationally in sacks (42) and 14th nationally in total defense.

Martinez' 2006 Georgia defense ranked eighth nationally in total defense, fifth in pass defense and first in the SEC in third down efficiency. In 2005, the Bulldog defense finished eighth in the country in scoring defense (16.4 ppg).

A Hollywood, Fla., native, Martinez played an important part in the 2003 SEC Eastern Division Champion Georgia defense that finished second nationally in scoring defense (14.5 ppg), fourth in total defense (276.86 ypg), sixth in passing defense (174.50 ypg, first in the SEC), 14th nationally in turnover margin (+.79), and fourth in number of scoreless quarters (25) among the AP's final Top Ten teams.

He was also part of the 2002 Bulldog defense that finished first in the SEC and fourth nationally in scoring defense (15.1 ppg), first in the SEC in red zone defense (58.8%), second in the SEC in rushing defense (114.0 ypg), and allowed only 31 second half points in the final seven games of the season.

In 2000, Central Michigan led the nation in pass defense (149.7 yds/g) and senior safety Brian Leigeb led the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in tackles and was third nationally with 13.36 per game.

Prior to joining the Central Michigan staff in 1998, he served as defensive backs coach at Eastern Michigan (1997) and as defensive coordinator at Central Florida in 1995-96. He also coached at Central Michigan in 1994 when the Chippewas won the MAC championship.

Martinez was a defensive back on Miami's 1983 national championship team and played in the 1985 Fiesta Bowl and the 1984 Orange Bowl. He also was a graduate assistant at Miami from 1985-86, coaching in the Sugar and Fiesta bowls.

He then served as an assistant for the 1988 season at Bethune-Cookman and was a high school coach at Boca Raton (1989-90) and Olympic Heights (1991) in Florida.

Martinez then joined the Grand Valley State University coaching staff as the defensive coordinator for the 1992-93 seasons.

Willie Martinez Profile - AuburnTigers.com - Auburn University Official Athletic Site
 
#3
#3
This one had Auburn and Geogia ties. The jury is still out on this one too. :)

Honestly at least Im seeing some SEC ties on this staff so far.
I believe that will help CBJ in recruiting.
 
#7
#7
Remember how bad he was with Georgia? AD even got involved and told Richt to fire him.
 
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#11
#11
Think of it this way: Martinez' resume includes stops at Georgia, Oklahoma, and Auburn where he coached defensive backs. At Georgia he did it well enough to be promoted to defensive coordinator. Our previous secondary coaches were a grad assistant and a coach from the Citadel, respectively. On paper this is a definite upgrade.
 
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#12
#12
Think of it this way: Martinez' resume includes stops at Georgia, Oklahoma, and Auburn where he coached defensive backs. At Georgia he did it well enough to be promoted to defensive coordinator. Our previous secondary coaches were a grad assistant and a coach from the Citadel, respectively. On paper this is a definite upgrade.

There is a lot of win in this post
 
#14
#14
Think of it this way: Martinez' resume includes stops at Georgia, Oklahoma, and Auburn where he coached defensive backs. At Georgia he did it well enough to be promoted to defensive coordinator. Our previous secondary coaches were a grad assistant and a coach from the Citadel, respectively. On paper this is a definite upgrade.

Thruth.
 
#15
#15
Some coordinators should not become head coaches and some position coaches should not become coordinators. But that does not mean that they failed at their lower positions. I'm on board with this hire.
 
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#19
#19
I spoke with a friend of mine , a long time Georgia booster, about Martinez. He was almost giddy thinking that UT was going to hire him as DC. Once the conversation shifted to DBs, his mood subsided and I was told that he was great with working on defensive speed, and the DB role might actually be a great hire. Jancek worked under him at UGA, so the relationship is there. I just hope he stays at DBs and nothing more.
 
#21
#21
Jancek is the DC. Martinez is secondary, which is a position where he excels. Compared to the Ansley/Conklin arrangement, Martinez is a significant upgrade.
 

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