NORFOLK, Va. – The National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Virginia Chapter, has announced that Old Dominion Wrestling Head Coach Steve Martin will be inducted into the Hall of Fame for the Lifetime Achievement Award on Saturday, April 18.
The ceremony will be held at The Wyndham Virginia Crossings Hotel & Conference Center in Glen Allen, Va. The banquet begins with a cash bar reception at 4:30 p.m. followed by dinner and the awards ceremony at 6:00 p.m.
“Steve Martin is most deserving of his induction into the Virginia Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame,” said Old Dominion Athletic Director Dr. Wood Selig. “No one is as dedicated to the sport of wrestling as Coach Martin. He has excelled at every level and is now a leader of one of the elite intercollegiate wrestling programs in the nation. Coach Martin is an outstanding role model for wrestling athletes of all ages and his impact is visible at all levels across the world. There is not a greater ambassador for the sport of wrestling than Steve Martin.”
Martin is being recognized for his inspirational leadership and dedication to the oldest sport. He has committed his time, energy and personal sacrifice for the betterment of wrestling.
He has been the head coach at Old Dominion for 11 years and has seen a lot of success. Martin has mentored 50 NCAA qualifiers, including seven All-Americans. His 2015 squad tied the school record that he set in 2012 with seven national qualifiers and saw two of its junior wrestlers earn All-American honors, marking the first time since 1991 that two ODU wrestlers have achieved that feat in the same season. The team was consistently ranked in the top-25 all season and finished the year 22nd at the NCAA Championships.
In 2007-08, Martin led the team to its second-best record in school history, finishing 17-3 in dual action. Also for the first time in school history the Monarchs earned a top 20 ranking as a team. He was named the CAA Coach of the Year as well as the VaSID Coach of the Year. Martin led six Monarchs to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history, including ODU's first All-American since 1995, James Nicholson.
At the high school level, Martin coached 40 state champions, 98 state place-winners, 35 All-Americans (freestyle and folkstyle) and six high school national champions. He also coached NCAA Division I National Champion Carl Perry to three high school state championships at Great Bridge. He was awarded the National Wrestling Coaches Association state and regional coach of the year in 1995 and 2000. The Norfolk Sports Club named him the Bob Bates Award winner as the Outstanding Metropolitan Coach of the Year. Martin has been active in Virginia USA Wrestling, coaching at the Junior Nationals in Fargo, N.D. and has coached with the Wrestling USA Magazine Dream Team Classic and the Dapper Dan Classic in Pennsylvania.
“It is a honor to be inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame,” said Martin. “The love of the sport was ingrained in me by my father Billy Martin Sr., as well as countless others that I cannot began to name. I watched the impact that my dad had on so many lives and I developed a passion for the sport and coaching. I am thankful for having the opportunity to coach at both the high school and college levels and help guide young men to achieve their goals on a daily basis!”
Along with Martin, Mike Caison, Roy Hill, John Licata, Pepper Martin and Donald Scarr are also being inducted. Karl Spinnenweber is being inducted for the Outstanding American Award.
For registration information on the banquet, go to http://va-nwhof.ticketleap.com. Tickets must be purchased no later than April 15, 2015.