Jason Martin serves as WKU's Cornerbacks Coach. The 2025 season will be his third with the program.
Martin helped lead one of the top secondaries in Conference USA in 2024 during his second season with the program. The Hilltoppers finished second in the league in pass defense by allowing just 176.1 yards per game, and held opponents under 100 yards passing four times during the regular season to help WKU earn a berth in the CUSA Championship Game and the Boca Raton Bowl. WKU was fourth in CUSA in scoring defense in 2024, allowing an average of 24.6 points per game, and ranked third in the category against league opponents during the regular season at just 20.1 points allowed through those eight games. The Hilltoppers were third in the league in turnovers gained in 2024.
Martin's 2024 unit was highlighted by Upton Stout, who earend All-CUSA First Team Defense honors and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft with the 100th overall pick.Â
During his first season at WKU in 2023, Martin helped lead an aggressive secondary that aided the Hilltoppers in becoming one of the best defenses in the country at producing turnovers. WKU finished the season finishing first in Conference USA and tied for seventh nationally in turnovers gained with 26. The Hilltoppers' 11 fumble recoveries were seventh nationally and the 15 passes intercepted were 15th in the country – marks that ranked first and second in CUSA, respectively. WKU was first in CUSA and 35th nationally in team passing efficiency defense, and the Hilltoppers' red zone defense was the second-best in CUSA.
Martin had a hand in developing a secondary that included safety Kendrick Simpkins, who led the nation in sacks by a defensive back and was tied for fifth in the country in forced fumbles per game, and cornerback Anthony Johnson Jr., who was named a CUSA All-Conference Honorable Mention selection after leading the league in interceptions per game. Defensive back Davion Williams also received a rookie mini camp invitation from the Atlanta Falcons following the 2024 NFL Draft.
Martin came to The Hill in 2023 as the team's Defensive Backs Pass Game Specialist and was later promoted to Cornerbacks Coach. Prior to his arrival at WKU, he coached at Independence Community College, where he finished his time as the team’s Head Coach for three seasons.
As Head Coach at ICC, Martin put together a record of 17-9 while leading the Pirates to a Jayhawk Conference Championship in 2021. Before being promoted to Head Coach, Martin spent four seasons as Defensive Backs Coach and Defensive Coordinator at ICC.
Prior to his time at ICC, Martin coached within the Jayhawk Conference at Garden City, where he was the school’s Secondary Coach. Before moving to the junior college level, Martin started his coaching career at UCLA where he was a Quality Control Coach, working with the Bruins’ defensive backs.
