When the 2022 football season begins, Marc Martinez will begin his sixth season as a full-time linebackers coach for Tarleton, fifth season as the program’s summer camp director, and eighth season with the Texan coaching staff overall.
Martinez was part of Tarleton’s first two NCAA Division I campaigns, helping the program go 6-5 in 2022 and 5-3 in 2021. The Texans went 5-3 in their first season at the FCS level and earned their first win over a Division I program against FBS Independent New Mexico State on February 21. The first Tarleton defense to take on Division I held opponents to 19.3 points per game and made 15.0 sacks for the spring of 2021. All-American linebacker Ronnell Wilson was a dominant leader for the linebacker corps under Martinez, including Tarleton’s first 20-tackle performance in the program’s NCAA era against Mississippi College.
In just his second full-time season in 2018, Martinez helped coach the Texan defense to the most successful season in school history. The Texans went 12-1, winning the first outright LSC title in program history and advanced to the NCAA regional finals with a No. 5 national ranking.
Martinez coached a trio of all-conference linebackers in EJ Speed, Ronnell Wilson and Gary Moore. Speed went on to become the highest drafted Texan in school history after being picked in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts. Speed led the Texans with 106 tackles while Moore and Speed combined for 10.5 of the 33 sacks on the season. The Texan defense held teams to just 101.2 rushing yards per game and the 214 points allowed is the lowest in the NCAA era for the Texans.
Tarleton followed up in 2019 with its second straight undefeated regular season and LSC Championship. Tarleton led the LSC in tackles for a loss (4.67) and total defense (287.3). Jefferson ranked No. 2 in the nation and led the conference with 2.1 tackles for loss per game. As a team, Tarleton also boasted the conference’s best rushing defense (103.0). Junior Ronnell Wilson led the linebackers with All-America recognition from the Don Hansen Football Committee.
After making the transition from coach to player in 2015, Martinez began his coaching career as a graduate assistant coach for the defense. Martinez helped turn former running back Cody Burtscher into one of the most decorated Texans to don the purple and white. Under Martinez’s leadership, Burtscher finished his senior season as a first-team All-LSC, all-region, and AFCA All-America selection as well as being named the Lone Star Conference Linebacker of the Year in 2016. In his first full-time season in 2017, Martinez helped coach Basil Jackson into one of the top linebackers in the country. Jackson led the nation in tackles per game for most of the season and finished the season as an All-LSC Second Team and all-region award winner.
Martinez made the transition from the gridiron to the sidelines following a stellar four-year playing career for the Texans, including an all-conference senior season as the team’s leading tackler.
He was a two-time all-LSC linebacker capped off by his senior campaign when he topped the 100-tackle mark to lead the Texans. He made 44 solo stops while assisting on 66 and leading the nation with four fumble recoveries. He also made 5.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage in his swan song season for the Purple and White.
For his career, Martinez played in 35 games over three seasons and was a part of the 2013 Lone Star Conference Championship team. He amassed two interceptions, four forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries in his career while making 253 total tackles, including 119 solo stops. He made 17.0 tackles for a loss in his career and deflected seven passes.
Martinez graduated with his undergraduate degree and master’s degree from Tarleton. He currently resides in Stephenville with his wife, Lacie, and two daughters, Estella and Camilla.
