Jacob Martin enters his fourth season as the UT Permian Basin Co-Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers Coach.
The linebackers have excelled under Coach Martin. Last season junior Chris Hoad finished the season third in Division II with 133 tackles and was named D2CCA All-Super Region Four First Team as well as Lone Star Conference Linebacker of the Year. Hoad enters the 2019 season the NCAA active leader in total tackles with 369. Fellow junior linebacker Keegan Gray was named LSC Honorable Mention after the season.
In 2017, Hoad tied for the conference lead with 122 tackles while Gray ranked seventh in the conference with 96 tackles, and both were named Lone Star Conference Honorable Mention.
In the team's first season, Hoad ranked second in the conference with 114 total tackles as a freshman while freshman Emilio Solis placed sixth in the conference with 83 total tackles.
Prior to UTPB, Martin spent five years at Tarleton. In those five years, Martin spent his first two seasons as a graduate assistant coach working with the secondary. In 2012 he coached the defensive ends, before moving back to coach the secondary again for the 2013 and 2014 seasons.
In Martin’s time at Tarleton he coached eight All-Conference, three All-Americans, and two players that played in the NFL, including sixth round draft pick Rufus Johnson and free agent signee Dashaun Phillips. Safety Charles Moore was named Capital One Academic All-American, Daktronics All-American, as well as being a finalist for the National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete award.
Martin played at Midwestern State where he played for two seasons. He was named Second Team All-Conference both years with the Mustangs. As a senior, Martin was second on the team with 65 total tackles, just two behind the leader. Martin had 20 solo and 43 assisted stops, including 2.5 tackles for a loss, forcing three fumbles. In his junior season, Martin was second on the team in tackles with 64, including 27 solo and 37 assisted tackles. He had three tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, five pass breakups and a recovered fumble.
Martin transferred to MSU from Trinity Valley Community College where he played the 2005 and 2006 seasons, after tearing his ACL before the 2004 season. In 2005, Martin helped TVCC finish No. 2 in the nation with a conference championship and a win in the Pilgrim’s Pride Bowl. He was a JUCO All-American and was selected First Team All-Conference team both years.
He was a 2004 graduate of Celina High School where he was a three-time state champion and played for GA Moore, the winningest high school coach in the state of Texas.
Martin resides in Odessa with his wife, Kari.
