Player Profiles - of College Football Games

Chuck Martin
2005 squad members also earned all-america plaudits, including two
(Mike McFadden and Josh Bourke) that were consensus all-americans.
GVSU opened the 2005 season with an impressive 30-10 win over west
Michigan rival Ferris State before a GVSU single-game record home
crowd of 14,557. GVSU moved into the number one spot in the AFCA
coaches poll following a 14-10 comeback win over Ashland in week four.
The victory over the Eagles sparked a momentum change and the Lakers
rolled through the rest of regular season. GVSU claimed a 31-10 victory
over #4 Saginaw Valley State in week seven and a 30-14 win over #5
Northwood in week eight. Martin guided the Lakers to four more impressive
wins over ranked opponents in the playoffs, including a 21-17 victory
over Northwest Missouri State in the title game.
Martin guided Grand Valley State to a 10-3 mark and a berth in the
NCAA DII playoff in his first season at the helm. The 10 wins posted by
GVSU under Martin were the most for any first-year head coach in the history
of Laker football.
Martin’s first head coaching victory came in the season opener against
GLIAC and west Michigan rival Ferris State by a 24-6 score. GVSU followed
with five more victories and continued to hold onto the
top ranking in the AFCA poll. Following a pair of setbacks to
nationally-ranked teams, the Lakers concluded the regular
season with a pair of wins, including a 24-7 victory over
fourth-ranked Michigan Tech in front of over 50,000 at
Michigan Stadium.
Grand Valley State advanced to the NCAA DII Playoffs for
the fourth straight year and claimed a 16-13 comeback win at
8th-ranked Winona State in first-round action. GVSU followed
with a 10-7 victory over Northwood in a second-round
contest. The win over the Timberwolves avenged an early season
loss and advanced GVSU to the NCAA DII Quarterfinals
for the fourth straight year. GVSU dropped its quarterfinal
matchup at North Dakota by a 19-15 score. The Lakers, who
finished the 2004 season ranked ninth in the country, placed
12 members on the All-GLIAC squad.
Prior to being named head coach, Martin was an assistant
coach at GVSU for four years. Chuck was the defensive coordinator
in the Lakers’ 2003 National Championship season.
Grand Valley State rode its defense to the 2003 NCAA DII
Football National Championship, holding its final three opponents
in the playoffs to just three field goals. Grand Valley
State ranked in the top 10 nationally in four defensive categories in 2003,
including a national-best rushing defense that yielded just 64.9 yards per
game. In addition, GVSU led the nation in turnovers forced (43) and total
turnover margin (+21). Grand Valley State ranked third in scoring defense
(13.3 ppg) and 19th in pass efficiency defense (100.3). The Lakers ranked
first in the GLIAC in four defensive categories and second in two.
Martin was a key figure in the progression of the GVSU defense during
his time as an assistant. Under his leadership, the defensive backfield
2002 • 2003 • 2005 • 2006 National Champions
earned 10 All-GLIAC honors in four years, including safety Scott Mackey
being named the GLIAC Defensive Back of the Year and a first-team allamerican
in 2002 and 2003. The Laker defensive backfield picked off 84
passes the four years prior to him becoming head coach, including a
GVSU single-season record 26 in both 2001 and 2003. Grand Valley State
returned 14 interceptions for touchdowns.
The 38-year-old Martin began his coaching career at Mankato State in
1992 while finishing his master’s degree. After a one-year stint with the
Mavericks, Martin moved on to Wittenberg University in Springfield,
Ohio. At Wittenberg, Martin coached the linebackers in football and
served as the head golf coach and assistant baseball coach for two years.
Chuck moved on to become the defensive coordinator/defensive backs
coach at his alma mater, Millikin University, for two years before taking
over the linebackers at Eastern Michigan in 1998. Martin coached the linebackers
at EMU for two years prior to his arrival at GVSU
Martin was a standout athlete at Millikin University, earning all-american
honors as a free safety, as well as GTE Academic All-American plaudits.
In addition, Martin was an all-conference place-kicker. Chuck was
also a standout on the hardwood for Millikin, earning academic all-district
honors. Martin graduated from Millikin in 1990 with a degree in accounting.
Chuck is a native of Park Forest, Ill., and graduated from Rich East
High School in 1986. Martin and his wife, Dulcie, have a seven-year son
(Max) and a three-year old daughter (Emma).
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