STEPHENVILLE, TX – Tarleton State University announced Friday morning, Feb. 10, that veteran assistant coach and former Tarleton Texan football player Marc Martinez died following a car accident in Stephenville early Friday morning.
"This is a terrible day in the Texan Football program," Head Coach of the Texans Todd Whitten said.
"Coach Martinez was not only a great assistant coach, but he was a great leader, a great person, and a great friend. He has done an incredible job in helping boost this program to where it is today, and we're beside ourselves that he is no longer with us. My heart breaks for his family, his wife Lacie, and his daughters Estella and Camilla. We will miss him dearly," Whitten concluded.
Martinez was in his eighth year as part of the Texans coaching staff. Last season, he finished his sixth year as the team’s linebackers coach.
Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Lonn Reisman spoke on Martinez’s importance to the Tarleton State family. “It's hard to find the words when we lose a valued member of the Tarleton Athletics family, and to find out we lost Coach Martinez this morning was devastating.”
"Not only was he a treasured member of the Tarleton Football coaching staff, he has been a treasured member of Tarleton Athletics for the past 12 years,” Reisman said.
“Marc will be remembered for his great servitude and for his tremendous career as a true Tarleton Texan. We will miss Marc, and we pray for all of his family and friends."
Coach Marc Martinez, Taleton State
(Credit: tarletonsports.com)
The former Tarleton linebacker had a stellar career with the Texans. He earned two All-LSC linebacker honors and had over 100 tackles his senior year that led the team. He played in 35 games as a Tarleton Texan and helped lead his team to their 2013 Conference Championship.
He began his coaching career with Tarleton State in 2015 as a graduate assistant coach for his old defense. He then moved to the full-time staff, where he helped coach the Texans to their first outright LSC title in program history. That team went on to advance to the NCAA regional final and finished the season ranked No. 5 nationally.
Martinez was an integral piece in assisting the Texans in starting their NCAA Division I reclassification and helping coach his former team to three straight winning seasons. He also coached several linebackers that went on to make their mark in the NFL. Notably, the Indianapolis Colts picked up E.J. Speed, the highest-drafted Texan in school history, in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL draft.
Coach Martinez, 30, earned both his undergraduate degree and master’s degree from Tarleton. He leaves behind his wife, Lacie, and his two young daughters, Estella and Camilla.
Martinez earned his undergraduate degree and master's degree from Tarleton. The 30-year-old leaves behind his wife, Lacie, and his two young daughters, Estella and Camilla.
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