BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Former Hilltopper letterman and current defensive tackles graduate assistant coach Kenny Martin has been promoted to full-time assistant, head coach Mike Sanford announced on Friday.
"Kenny has done a tremendous job developing our interior defensive line, and I know he will continue to advance that group as we head into the 2018 season," Sanford said. "He is already a passionate and enthusiastic coach, but there is an extra edge to Kenny when it comes to coaching for his alma mater. He will absolutely be able to convey that passion to recruits, particularly in his hometown areas of Orlando and Miami."
Martin, who has spent the last two seasons on staff and directed the defensive tackles last season, lettered at defensive tackle from 2009-12 on The Hill and will continue in his current role as the leader of the defensive tackles group. He fills a spot vacated by the resignation of former assistant coach Geoff Dartt who returned home to Ohio for personal reasons.
"This a dream to be able to serve in this capacity at my alma mater," Martin said. "My wife, Tasha, and I are extremely grateful to Coach Sanford and to the university for giving us this opportunity. I've been through a lot of the phases of this program, from the transition to the FBS as a player to winning a conference championship as a coach, and look forward to continuing the winning tradition here on The Hill."
In his first season working with the defensive tackles, Martin's work with first-time starter Evan Sayner was showing major progress as Sayner was on pace for an All-Conference USA season before an injury sidelined him for the second half of the season. In his place, junior Julien Lewis emerged and grew into a stout run stopper by season's end, giving the Hilltoppers a promising interior presence heading into 2018. Senior Chris Johnson earned All-Conference USA honorable mention accolades after leading all WKU defenders in quarterback hurries from his tackle position. The Hilltoppers finished in the top half of C-USA rushing defenses despite losing two of their major run stuffers up front to season ending injuries in Sayner and freshman Jalen Madden.
In 2016, while working with the WKU linebackers, senior Keith Brown set an FBS single-season record for total tackles with 131 en-route to earning All-Conference USA First Team honors along with Pro Football Focus Second Team All-American honors. The Hilltoppers finished the campaign with the No. 2 ranked rushing defense, surrendering just 97.2 yards per game. Linebackers Joel Iyiegbuniwe and T.J. McCollum also added All-C-USA Honorable Mention honors. The Hilltoppers also led the conference in scoring defense as they won their second consecutive league championship and third consecutive bowl game.
A native of Orlando, Fla., Martin played in 48 games with 42 starts from 2009-12 and was a member of WKU's first-ever FBS bowl team in the 2012 Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl. He joins safeties coach Jami Deberry as Hilltopper lettermen now serving as full-time assistant coaches on staff, while graduate assistants Nelson Fishback, Garrett Schwettman, and Anthony Davis also all hold lettermen distinction within the program.
Prior to returning to The Hill, Martin was the defensive line coach at the University of Virginia-Wise. Martin also served as the defensive coordinator at Warren Central High School in Bowling Green. He got his start in coaching as the co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach at his former high school, Ocoee High School, in Orlando. From Ocoee, Martin's former linebacker Terrell Lewis went on to sign and play with Georgia Tech while former Warren Central stars De'Vonte Barber, Wes Blomeier, and Shawn Jewell went on to collegiate programs, Kentucky Wesleyan, University of Cumberlands and Lindenwood-Belleville, respectively.
Martin is married to the former LaTasha Babb.
With Martin moving to the defensive tackles role full-time, defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey will now serve as the defensive ends coach and retain the recruiting coordinator title.
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