Will Martin was named the sixth head coach of the Griffons in March 2020 after spending two years as an assistant coach at Missouri Western.
OUTSIDE OF MWSU
Before coming to St. Joseph, the Franklin, Tennessee native was an assistant men’s basketball coach and the director of athletic admissions at Martin Methodist College (NAIA).
Before that, Martin served as the director of basketball operations at the University of San Francisco under head coach Rex Walters.
As a graduate student, Martin served as a graduate assistant and video coordinator for men’s basketball at the University of Tulsa from 2013-2015. While at Tulsa, Martin worked with Danny Manning (Conference USA Champions 2013-2014) and Frank Haith. Martin also served as Senator for the College of Education in Oklahoma.
As an undergraduate, Martin served as a men’s basketball manager at the University of Kentucky under head coach John Calipari. During Martin’s tenure with the Wildcats, the team reached the Elite 8 on three occasions, the Final Four on two events, and Martin served as the head manager of the 2012 National Championship team.
In addition to his men’s basketball program duties, Martin served as captain of the University of Kentucky Ethics Debate team from 2009-2011. Under his direction, Kentucky claimed its first-ever Regional Championship and national appearance in the team’s history.
Martin received his bachelor's from the University of Kentucky in 2012 and his Master's in Education from the University of Tulsa in 2015.
Off the hardwood, Martin also is involved in a prison ministry project – “Against the Grain,” – where he serves as a volunteer teacher of the “180 Project.”
A 2007 graduate of Battle Ground Academy in Franklin, Tennessee, Martin currently resides in St. Joseph with his wife, Avens.
MARTIN'S RECORD AT MISSOURI WESTERN
2020-21 | 14-11 (13-9 MIAA) NCAA Tournament Appearance
2021-22 | 14-17 (10-12 MIAA) MIAA Conference Appearance
2022-23 | 14-16 (9-13 MIAA) MIAA Conference Appearance
2023-24 | 17-13 (10-12 MIAA) MIAA Conference Appearance
