Warren County High School graduate David Martin has become a Red Raider.
The former Pioneer was announced Thursday as the new head coach for the Coffee County High School baseball team.
“It’s going to be tough sitting in a different dugout,” admitted Martin. “But I’m excited. This is a great opportunity for me to run a program. It’s the opportunity I’ve been looking for.”
Martin spent four years coaching the Warren County Middle School baseball team. During that span the Pioneers were highly competitive and compiled a 48-17 record. WCMS played in three straight conference championships during Martin’s tenure, winning one tournament title and one regular season championship.
Martin spent this past season as hitting coach for the WCHS team under coach Adam Childs.
“I’m going to miss the kids in Warren County,” said Martin. “I’ve built up a lot of relationships with them and this year’s senior class I’ve coached all of them for years. I see them on the baseball field, out around the community, and really have a lot of friendships.”
Martin inherits a Coffee County program looking for stability. The Red Raiders parted ways with their head coach before the 2015 baseball season began because of legal issues and went through the year with John Spears as interim coach. Martin says he has talked with coach Spears and is going to retain him on his staff.
“He knows all the kids and we’ve talked and we jell pretty good,” said Martin. “But I will be hiring other people to round out my coaching staff.”
Martin knows all aspects of the game, but prides himself on being a hitting coach.
“Hitting is something I really study,” said Martin. “Hitting is the hardest part of the game.”
While Martin will be coaching one county over, he will be somewhat of a familiar face. Warren County and Coffee County are traditional rivals and played each other in baseball twice this season.
Martin played his high school ball for the Pioneers then went on to play collegiately. He played for two years at Jackson State before finishing his final two years at MTSU.