K-State gives Martin his moment
Friends: Assistant coach deserved promotion
By Tim Bisel
The Capital-Journal
Published Saturday, April 07, 2007
Andy Kennedy understands the pain. He realizes Bob Huggins left Kansas State fans broken-hearted Thursday when he hopped aboard a turboprop plane and flew home to his native West Virginia.
But Kennedy wants Catbackers to understand this, too. Huggins left more than heartache. He also left a gift in the form of Frank Martin, the K-State assistant who was promoted Friday to replace Huggins.
"I really think he did," said Kennedy, the coach who led Ole Miss to a 21-13 record this season. "I think Frank Martin is from the same school of thought as it relates to building programs.
"I think the Kansas State people — although I'm sure they're disappointed and I'm sure feel a little shunned — I'm sure they'll appreciate the future of Kansas State basketball."
Martin is 41 years old. He is a 22-year coaching veteran, highly regarded as a recruiter and enjoyed tremendous prep success in Miami, where he was part of eight state championships at powerhouse Miami High — five as an assistant coach and three as the head coach.
But Martin never has been a head coach at the Division I level. He has been an assistant and recruiting coordinator for three schools — Northeastern University, Cincinnati and K-State — the past seven years.
Still, those who know him well say the Wildcats couldn't have found a better replacement for Huggins.
"I think he'll be a great hire for Kansas State," said Arlington Country Day (Fla.) coach Rex Morgan, who has known Martin for about 15 years. "To me, he's paid his dues. He coached with (Duquesne coach) Ron Everhart; he coached with Huggs. He's a lot like Huggs on the defense. He's a very demanding coach. He's more than ready."
Kennedy agrees, and he should know.
Kennedy worked alongside Martin in 2004-05 when the two were members of Huggins' staff at Cincinnati. The following year, after Huggins parted ways with UC and Kennedy was named interim coach, Martin was one of Kennedy's top assistants.
"I don't want to say Frank worked for me," Kennedy said. "Frank worked with me. He's a quality individual, a guy that is ready for this."
But Kennedy doesn't take credit for preparing Martin. Instead, he gives all credit for that to Huggins, one of his closest friends.
"One of the great things about Huggs is he gives his assistants a lot of autonomy, a lot of control and game-planning and recruiting and scheduling," Kennedy said. "That helps in being a head coach. It certainly served me well. I think it will serve Frank well, too.
"He has all of the same attributes that anybody who ever spent any time with Bob Huggins comes to realize is very, very valuable."
Martin is like Huggins in another respect, as well. When it comes to sideline demeanor, he's as demonstrative and passionate as they come.
Not a game went by this season when Martin didn't, at some point, resemble a madman. He stomped on the floor. He barked at players. He jumped from his seat. And he did it all with eyes that looked as though they could pierce steel.
"He's so intense," said Steve Moeller, a former Huggins assistant who has known Martin for more than a decade but never coached with him. "He wants to win so badly. He's a nonstop worker. He puts in the hours — endless hours."
But last May, he couldn't. Less than two months after he arrived in Manhattan with Huggins, Martin was hospitalized with a severe case of pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas.
Moeller said Martin was so ill he nearly died.
"They got it just in the nick of time," Moeller said. "For a couple days there, it was touch-and-go."
Now, Martin is healthy, much like the Wildcats. Under the direction of Huggins, K-State went 23-12 this season and reached the postseason for the first time since 1999.
Although the Wildcats lose standout Cartier Martin to graduation, next year looks even more promising because Huggins signed a recruiting class that is headlined by McDonald's All-American Michael Beasley and ranked as the nation's best by Rivals.com.
Many believe K-State retained Martin and Dalonte Hill, who was promoted to associate head coach Friday, because their strong recruiting ties will help the program hang on to this year's recruits.
Moeller wouldn't argue.
"Frank's a really, really good guy, and he's a great recruiter," he said. "I'm going to say something now that only a longtime assistant coach would say: Winning at any sport is 85 to 90 percent dependent on recruiting, and Frank's a really good recruiter."
One of Martin's success stories was tarnished. According to a published report, Martin was fired by Miami High in 1998 after it was discovered that star player Udonis Haslem and others on the team enrolled in the school by falsely claiming to live with a Miami High booster. The report said the school was required to return the championship trophy.
However, the Florida High School Activities Association never accused Martin of any wrongdoing.
"We have not provided living arrangements for any students," Martin told the Miami Herald at the time. "We have not recruited anyone."
Morgan believes Martin won at Miami High and elsewhere because of his coaching ability, not his recruiting practices.
"I think Frank's a better coach than he is a recruiter," Morgan said. "I think the same things that he puts into recruiting he puts into coaching — the time, the preparedness, an organized plan, how we're going to go after this kid and that type of thing. I think he's one of the brightest guys out there."
Now, Martin finally will have the chance to prove it.
"I am really impressed with Kansas State's administration for stepping up and liking the direction of the program, understanding the need for continuity and stepping up and making an investment in Frank," Kennedy said. "I am tremendously impressed with that, and I assure everyone that they won't be disappointed in that decision."
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