Kirk Martin - Football Coach - Syracuse University Athletics

Kirk Martin

Title:
Quarterbacks
Email:
kmarti34@syr.edu

After serving as Syracuse quarterbacks coach in 2018 and 2019, Kirk Martin transitioned into the role of senior analyst in 2020.

Martin assists the offensive and defensive coaching staffs in preparing games plans, breaking down film of opponents and self-scouting. He also provides player development support through academics, leadership and mentorship, and assists head coach Dino Babers with special projects related to both football and recruiting.

A highly-successful coach on the Texas high school circuit, Martin mentored Tommy DeVito and Eric Dungey during his stint as Syracuse's quarterbacks coach. DeVito was one of the best in the nation in 2019 at taking care of the football. He tied the Orange sophomore record with 19 touchdown passes and was one of six Power-Five quarterbacks to throw for 19+ TDs with five or fewer interceptions. DeVito ended the campaign with a streak of 170 consecutive pass attempts without an interception, the second-long streak in team history.

In 2018, Martin's first year as a college coach, he trained Dungey, who racked up 3,622 yards of offense and a school-record 33 touchdowns. The Orange offense was brilliant with Dungey at the controls. Syracuse scored a program-record 523 points and finished 11th nationally in points per game (40.2) en route to a 10-3 record and a Camping World Bowl victory over West Virginia. Following the season, Dungey signed a free-agent contract with the New York Giants. He is currently with the XFL's Dallas Renegades.

Martin arrived at Syracuse after starting the football program at Houston’s Manvel High School where he turned the Mavericks into a state powerhouse. In 10 seasons at Manvel, Martin posted a 108-25 (.812) record. Overall, he owns a career coaching mark of 115-39 (.747), which includes a two-year stint as the head coach at Alpine (Texas) High School.

Manvel won at least 11 games eight times under Martin. He led the Mavericks to six district titles, eight consecutive playoff appearances (2010-17) and state championship game berths in 2011 and 2017. In 2011, Martin earned Touchdown Club of Houston Coach of the Year honors after guiding Manvel to its first state title-game appearance. In 2017, Martin was named the Texan Live Coach of the Year. He led the Mavericks to a 14-1 record. that season. Their only loss was a 53-49 decision to Highland Park in the Class 5A Division I state championship game.

During Martin’s tenure, Manvel produced dozens of players who went on to play college football at the FBS level, including quarterbacks D’Eriq King (Houston/Miami), Kyle Trask (Florida), Travaughn Colwell (New Mexico State), Dexter Foreman (Minnesota/Maryland) and his son, Kason Martin (North Texas).

A native of Quitaque, Texas, Martin began his coaching career in 1992 as an assistant coach at Cathedral High School in El Paso. His résumé also includes Texas high school stops as an assistant at Riverside, Alvin, Odessa Permian and Giddings.

In 2004, Martin was named athletic director and head football coach at Alpine High School. He coached two seasons there before being hired in January 2006 to build the Manvel program from scratch. He then spent two years preparing the Mavericks for their first season of competition in 2008.

A tight end and four-year letterwinner for UTEP, Martin holds a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from the school and a master’s degree in school administration from Sul Ross State.

Martin and his wife, Caren, have four children – Koda Martin, Cory Jo Martin, London Harris and Kason Martin. Koda Martin, London Harris and Kason Martin all played for their father at Manvel and continued their football careers in college. Koda Martin played the 2018 season at Syracuse after starting his career at Texas A&M. He signed a free-agent contract with the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers in April 2019. London Harris is a linebacker at Texas State. Kason Martin is a quarterback at North Texas. Martin’s daughter, Cory Jo, is also a college athlete. She is a member of the Mary Hardin-Baylor volleyball team.