Coach Jody Martinez begins his 12th season at the helm of the Lady Pilots with an overall record of 279 wins and 113 losses. A fierce competitor on and off the court, he expects his team to play like he did in college; hard-nosed with a desire to be the best. Dubbed “The Definition of Bethel Basketball”, Coach Martinez finished his playing career with outstanding individual numbers to go along with his teams’ successes. As a player his teams won 110 games in his four years compared to only 36 losses. Individually, he finished his four years as the career leader in points (2,620/currently 3rd), rebounds (1,728/1st), blocks (197/2nd), steals (182/10th), field goal percentage (59.8%/2nd), and games played (146/8th).

 

Upon graduation, he played professional basketball for a brief summer before returning to school to get his teaching certification in the fall of 1991. During this time, he assisted Coach Mike Lightfoot and the men’s team as they won two NCCAA National Championships (1992 & 1993).

 

After completing his requirements for secondary education, Coach Martinez coached five years of high school boys’ basketball before being asked to return to Bethel as the women’s basketball coach in the spring of 1998. His first year on the bench was the programs best ever by winning their first 20 win season and first trip to the NCCAA National Tournament. He followed up his first season success with a NCCAA National title in 2000, then a Mid-Central Conference championship and a NAIA National Tournament berth in 2001.

 

His teams have finished in the NAIA “Elite Eight” four times: 2001, 2005, 2007, and 2008. In 2009, his team finished in the “Sweet 16” at the NAIA National Tournament. He has won four NCCAA National Titles in 2000, 2003, 2004, and 2006. Coach Martinez has been named NCCAA National Coach of the Year four times and Mid-Central Conference Coach of the Year three times (’01, ’08, ’09). His teams have won over 20 games a season during his 11 seasons as head coach.

 

Coach Martinez and his wife, Sonya, live in Mishawaka with their daughters Hannah and Josalyn.

 

“The most important part of coaching according to me is helping the girls grow into strong spiritual and mature women. Seeing the success that our former players have had in life after basketball is what Sonya and I base our success on, not wins and losses.”