Favorite Jay Martin Story
Guy Herrmann '82
Pittsburgh, PA
I grew up in a very nice family, where I was always taught to respect my elders, coaches, policemen, teachers—anyone older than I was. Coach Martin announced early on, mostly for freshman ears, to call him Jay. With his full reddish blonde beard and hat, I had no idea how old Coach Martin was. My freshman year through my senior year, he repeated that. When I came out my senior year to play, I still called him Coach Martin throughout the season.
On our way to Hershey, PA, for the semifinals and finals of the NCAA division three championships, Coach Martin made a point of coming around, sitting down, and talking with each player. When he got to my seat, he sat down. We talked a little bit about the upcoming games. He told me who some of the strong players were. Then he turned to me and asked: "Will you please call me Jay, just this one weekend?
The 1981 soccer season was the most rewarding and enjoyable season of all the sports I played.
He was a man of his word and always the right words! I walked onto soccer practice in late August 1978 at Ohio Wesleyan thinking, maybe I'll play soccer. A week later Coach Martin very kindly told me I was a great athlete, but he had recruited Jimmy Horne '81 to be his goalie. Forward to the spring of 1981, a rainy day and baseball practice is indoors. After practice, I found myself offering to be a goalie for three guys who were kicking shots into the golf nets in the gym. As chance would have it, Coach Martin walked past, stopped, and asked if I was getting in shape for next season. A brief conversation led to an invitation to preseason in August 1981. With his parting comment of, "I like tall goalies."
I earned the starting spot and played the entire season with an incredibly strong team in front of me. Our first game under the lights was at OWU. In the first half, we took a penalty on the near sideline some 40 to 45 yards away from my goal. The ball was launched and I totally missed it over my head, my outstretched arms, and into the goal. Down 0 to 1. At halftime, Coach Martin was going over updated strategies. He suddenly paused and turned my way to say, "By the way, Herrmann, nice dunk!"
It was the perfect comment to lighten my mood and at the same time let me know that he had my back. True sign of a great coach, knowing what to say, and who to say it to at the right time. That season was the most enjoyable sporting season I ever played. Thank you, Coach Martin.