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Kent State University has announced that Head Football Coach Doug Martin will step down after Friday morning’s season finale with Ohio University. Martin led the Flashes for seven seasons, compiling a 28-53 record while failing to post a winning season during his time at the helm.
In a statement released Sunday evening, Director of Athletics Joel Nielsen said “I’d like to thank Doug for his eight years of service to the university, seven of which were as the head coach. Under his direction, our team made strides on the field, performed very well in the classroom, and was active in the community.”
Martin came to Kent State in 2003 as offensive coordinator for then head coach Dean Peen.
He replaced Dean Pees on March 1, 2004, becoming the 19th head coach in school history when Pees (currently linebackers coach with the Baltimore Ravens) left for the New England Patriots.
A native of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Martin was a quarterback at Kentucky for legendary coach Jerry Claiborne before beginning his coaching career at UK as a graduate assistant. He then moved on to East Tennessee State, where he was the running backs coach and later offensive coordinator before becoming quarterbacks and wide receivers coach with the Buccaneers.
From there it was onto East Carolina, spending eleven seasons with the Pirates - the last seven in charge of the offense under then head coach Steve Logan. Martin was also coach of the tight ends, special teams and wide receivers before being named offensive coordinator in 1996.While in Greenville, he worked with David Garrard, who is currently the starting quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
As Golden Flashes head coach, Martin led KSU to its first win over a BCS school (2007 at Iowa State) since 1987 at Kansas. His 2010 squad regained the Wagon Wheel trophy from arch-rival Akron,
A number of athletes had outstanding seasons during the Martin years and went on to play professionally. Josh Cribbs, James Harrison, Usama Young, and Julian Edelman are currently in the National Football League.
Martin’s best season was in 2006 when Kent State went 6-6 on the strength of a five-game winning streak. The Flashe, however, fell out of contention for the MAC East Division title by dropping four of the final five games.
Last season, KSU used a three-game winning skein, including a win at eventual MAC East champ Ohio, to get into the title race before losing the final three games.
This season, which was the final year of Martin’s contract, brought expectations that the Flashes again would challenge Temple, and Ohio for the east top spot. Thanks to a defense that led the nation against the run, Kent State was at one point 4-4 (3-2 MAC) and just one game off the division lead. Once again, however, KSU faltered down the stretch. Three consecutive losses to Temple, Army, and, last Saturday, Western Michigan guaranteed a losing record on the season. First place Ohio, which comes invades Kent Friday, represents the only chance for the Flashes to break even in conference play.
Martin has not been available to the media since the announcement, but released a statement saying “I want Kent State fans to know what a great group of assistant coaches we have here. The character of these men is unquestioned and the job they have done is outstanding. I’d also like to thank the University for the opportunity to lead this team the last seven years.”
A National search for a successor will begin immediately.
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