From Jackson State Community College – It is with a heavy heart that Jackson State received word of the passing of our friend and former colleague, Mr. Jack Martin.

Jack Martin, who spent over twenty-five years at Jackson State Community College as baseball coach and athletic director, has passed away.

He was 86.

He was voted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 1991 and the Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.

During his nine years of coaching, he had twenty All-Western Division and All-Conference baseball players on his teams, including one All-American and seven who went on to sign professional contracts.

During his tenure as athletic director, the college qualified several teams for state and regional tournaments in baseball and men’s and women’s basketball.

Martin served on many committees through the years in the TJCAA, including the executive committee and as chairperson of the baseball committee.

Born in Warren County, Tennessee, Martin attended Northwest Mississippi Junior College for two years and received his bachelor’s degree from UT and his master’s degree from MTSU.

He spent ten years in management with the Sears organization before getting involved in college athletics.

During his years as a graduate assistant in baseball at MTSU, the Blue Raiders, under the leadership of Jimmy Earle, won the school’s first OVC baseball championship in 1968. Being associated with the program opened the door for Martin at Jackson State, where in his first year as head baseball coach, his team was runner-up in the TJCAA.

That same year, his colleagues elected him Coach of the Year. In nine years of coaching baseball, he compiled a record of 201-89.

Jack Martin’s distinguished career at Jackson State Community College will be remembered for the great success he brought to the school’s athletic program.

(PHOTO: Jack Martin)