Sonya has been involved with the Lady Pilot Basketball Program for over 20 years: first as a player (1988-1990), then as a head coach (1992-1996) and the last 11 years as one of the assistant coaches. She has had as much impact as anyone in building the program into the national power it has become at the NAIA and the NCCAA levels. It was Sonya who really made the women's basketball summer camps marketable. The camps have grown into a great recruiting tool for future Lady Pilots. Many former and current players have attended a camp when they were younger before they became a Lady Pilot.

 

As a player, Sonya was a fierce leader on the court from the point guard position. Even though she transferred to Bethel College after her sophomore year from Judson University (Elgin, Illinois) and only played one and a half seasons, she still dished out over 200 assists. Taking over the head coaching duties for the 1992-1993 season, Sonya increased her win total in each of her four years as the program gradually grew stronger.

 

Since returning to the sidelines with her husband for the 1998-1999 seasons as an assistant, Sonya has been the balance that is much needed to complement Jody's coaching style. The program has won 4 NCCAA National Championships and has made it to the NAIA National Tournament 5 times finishing in the "Elite Eight" four times (’01, ’05, ’07, ’08) and in the “Sweet 16” in 2009. She no longer sits on the bench or helps in practice, but her role has taken on a different meaning:

 

"In my opinion, my wife's role is the most important role in this basketball program: spiritual development," stated  head coach Jody Martinez. "She organizes the bible studies and the accountability groups. She also does a lot of mentoring for these ladies. As I always state - the most important part of coaching is helping the girls grow into strong, mature, and spiritual women. Seeing the success our former players have had in life is what Sonya and I base our success on in coaching - not wins and losses."

 

Besides being a dedicated wife (19 years) and loving mother to Hannah (12) and Josalyn (9), Sonya serves as the Director of Children Ministry at Grace Church located in Granger, Indiana.