Seminole Sunday Sauce — Feb. 4, 2024: Legendary FSU Baseball Coach Mike Martin Passes Away
The Florida State community said goodbye to a legend this week.
Longtime head baseball coach Mike Martin died on Thursday — 12 days shy of his 80th birthday. A native of North Carolina, Martin spent 40 years as the head man in Tallahassee after stints as a player and an assistant coach.
Known for being folksy and getting the most out of his players, Martin served as head coach of the Seminoles from 1980 to 2019. Under Martin, FSU never had a losing season and never missed the NCAA Tournament.
Although he never won a national championship, Martin’s 2,029 victories are an NCAA record. During his time in Tallahassee, Martin led FSU to 19 conference championships and 17 trips to the College World Series.
Inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019, Martin was succeeded as head coach by his son Mike Martin Jr., also a longtime assistant and former player. The younger Martin spent three years as the head man.
Martin’s accolades speak for themselves, but his contributions to the game and impact on FSU went beyond the field. Martin leaves behind three children and his wife, Carol, of 58 years.
FOOTBALL
Record: 13-1
Ranking: No. 6 AP Poll; No. 6 USA Today Coaches Poll
Recognitions: Tatum Bethune, LB (ACC All-Academic); Joshua Burrell, WR (ACC All-Academic); Keon Coleman, WR (ACC All-Academic); AJ Cottrill, LB (ACC All-Academic); Brian Courtney, TE (ACC All-Academic); Justin Cryer, LB (ACC All-Academic); Fentrell Cypress, CB (ACC All-Academic); Preston Daniel, TE (ACC All-Academic); Ja'Khi Douglas, WR (ACC All-Academic); Bryson Estes, OL (ACC All-Academic); Joshua Farmer, DL (ACC All-Academic); Ryan Fitzgerald, K (ACC All-Academic); Omar Graham Jr., LB (ACC All-Academic); Bless Harris, OL (ACC All-Academic); Donny Hiebert, DB (ACC All-Academic); Destyn Hill, WR (ACC All-Academic); Keiondre Jones, OL (ACC All-Academic); Kevin Knowles II, DB (ACC All-Academic); Fabien Lovett Sr., DL (ACC All-Academic); Blake Nichelson, LB (ACC All-Academic); James Rosenberry Jr., LS (ACC All-Academic); Robert Scott Jr., OL (ACC All-Academic); Thomas Shrader, OL (ACC All-Academic); Maurice Smith, C (ACC All-Academic); Jackson West, TE; Hykeem Williams, WR (ACC All-Academic)
Commitments: Amaree Williams, 4-star EDGE* (No. 207 overall*)
Decommitments: None
2024 Recruiting Class Rank: No. 12 nationally, third in ACC (23 total commitments)
Wrap-up: FSU has had a number of big-time prospects on campus in recent weeks. The Seminoles closed the week with a big-time commitment.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Record: 12-9 (6-4 ACC)
Ranking: N/A
Past Week: (0-1), lost at Louisville on Saturday, 101-92
Upcoming: at Boston College (Tuesday); vs. Virginia (Saturday)
Recognitions: None
Commitments: None
Decommitments: None
2024 Recruiting Class Rank: No. 85 nationally, 15th in ACC (1 total commitment)
Wrap-up: With an embarrassing loss, any hope FSU may have had for the NCAA Tournament likely went down the drain.
Swimming and Diving
Ranking: Men No. 16 CSCAA; women N/A
Past Week: Idle
Upcoming: Auburn First Chance Invite (Friday and Saturday)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU heads to Auburn this week for its final meet before the ACC Championships.
Women’s Basketball
Record: 15-7 (6-4 ACC)
Ranking: N/A
Past Week: (1-0), beat Georgia Tech on Sunday, 78-67
Upcoming: vs. Miami (Sunday); at Pittsburgh (Thursday)
Recognitions: Ta’Niya Latson, G (Wooden Award Late Season Top 20)
Wrap-up: After a 3-game losing streak, FSU picked up a much-needed road win on Sunday.
Men’s Tennis
Record: 5-2
Ranking: No. 23 ITA
Past Week: (2-0), beat Mississippi State at ITA Kickoff Weekend, 4-1; beat Florida on Saturday in Lake Nona, 4-0
Upcoming: vs. Oklahoma (Feb. 11)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU had a great week with two solid wins away from home.
Women’s Tennis
Record: 2-2
Ranking: N/A
Past Week: (0-1), lost to Florida on Saturday in Lake Nona, 4-2
Upcoming: vs. UAB (Saturday); Georgia State (Saturday)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU gave a valiant effort on Saturday against a top-10 team but came up short.
Track and Field
Ranking: Men No. 9 USTFCCCA, No. 1 South Region; women No. 7 South Region
Past Week: Idle
Upcoming: New Balance Indoor Grand Prix (Sunday); Florida Last Chance (Friday); David Hemery Valentine Invite (Friday and Saturday); Tiger Paw Invitational (Friday and Saturday)
Recognitions: David Mullarkey (ACC Men’s Performer of the Week)
Wrap-up: The FSU men have ascended to the top spot in the South Region. The Seminoles face a busy week with four events.
Men’s Golf
Ranking: No. 12 GCAA Coaches Poll
Past Week: Began Thomas Sharkey Individual Collegiate
Upcoming: Thomas Sharkey Individual Collegiate (Sunday); Amer Ari Invitational (Thursday-Saturday)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: Through one day at the Thomas Sharkey Individual Collegiate, FSU’s Gary Albright is in 12th place.
Women’s Golf
Ranking: No. 10 WGCAA Coaches Poll
Past Week: Won IJGA Collegiate Invitational
Upcoming: Moon Invitational (Feb. 18-20)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: In its return to the links, FSU dominated in Mexico. The Seminoles won the team title by 10 strokes.
Softball
Record: 0-0
Ranking: No. 3 Softball America; No. 4 USA Softball; No. 4 D1Softball; No. 3 USA TODAY/NFCA
Upcoming: vs. Charlotte (Thursday, JoAnne Graf Classic); vs. Charlotte (Friday, JoAnne Graf Classic); vs. Texas Tech (Saturday, JoAnne Graf Classic); vs. Florida A&M (Saturday, JoAnne Graf Classic);
Recognitions: Kalei Harding, OF (Preseason Softball America All-America second team)
Wrap-up: The wait is finally over. FSU kicks off the season with the JoAnne Graf Classic this week.
Baseball
Record: 0-0
Ranking: N/A
Upcoming: vs. Butler (Feb. 16)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU baseball will look to bounce back from its first losing season ever as it begins a new campaign later this month. It has been picked to finish fourth in the ACC Atlantic.
*Recruiting rankings according to the 247Sports Composite rankings
- Mike Ferguson is the lead writer for Double Fries No Slaw. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson. For all of his work, “Like” or “Follow” Mike on Facebook.
