Willie Martinez (American football)

Last updated

Willie Martinez
Willie Martinez Tennessee.png
Martinez in 2024
Current position
TitleCornerbacks coach
Team Tennessee
Conference SEC
Biographical details
Born (1963-02-21) February 21, 1963 (age 62)
Alma mater Miami (FL)
Playing career
Position(s) Defensive back
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1985–1986 Miami (FL) (GA)
1988 Bethune-Cookman (WR)
1989–1990 Boca Raton HS (FL) (secondary)
1991 Olympic Heights HS (FL) (DC/secondary)
1992–1993 Grand Valley State (DC/secondary)
1994 Central Michigan (secondary)
1995–1996 UCF (DC/secondary)
1997 Eastern Michigan (secondary)
1998–1999Central Michigan (secondary)
2000Central Michigan (AHC/secondary)
2001–2004 Georgia (secondary)
2005–2009Georgia (DC/secondary)
2010–2011 Oklahoma (secondary)
2012 Auburn (secondary)
2013–2016 Tennessee (AHC/secondary)
2017 Cincinnati (secondary)
2018–2020UCF (AHC/secondary)
2021–presentTennessee (Cornerbacks)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships

Willie Martinez (born February 21, 1963) [1] is an American football coach who is currently the cornerbacks coach for the University of Tennessee. Previously served as the assistant head coach and secondary coach for the University of Central Florida (UCF). [2]

Contents

Playing career

Martinez played defensive back at the University of Miami from 1981–1984. He was part of the 1983 team that won the National Championship. [3]

Coaching career

Martinez served as the defensive backs coach for the Oklahoma Sooners football team from 2010 to January 2012, when he resigned. [4] On February 13, 2012, Martinez was hired to coach defensive backs for Auburn University. [5] The move reunited him with Auburn's Defensive Coordinator Brian VanGorder. The two had coached together for several years at Central Florida, Central Michigan, and the University of Georgia. In December 2012, Martinez joined Butch Jones's staff at Tennessee until January 2017, then in 2020 when Tennessee fired their Head Coach Jeremy Pruitt, Tennessee hired Josh Heupel and Heupel then hired Martinez to his staff. [6] [7]

References

  1. ↑ "Willie Martinez". utsports.com. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Vols add veterans Garner, Martinez to staff". ESPN.com. Associated Press. February 20, 2021. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  3. ↑ Potkey, Rhiannon (February 15, 2017). "Former Tennessee DB coach Willie Martinez hired by Cincinnati". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  4. ↑ Esco, Jordan (January 13, 2012). "Oklahoma finally announces Mike Stoops return, Willie Martinez "resignation"". Crimson And Cream Machine. SB Nation. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  5. ↑ Goldberg, Charles (February 17, 2012). "Auburn makes it official: Willie Martinez hired to coach secondary after stops at Oklahoma, Georgia". AL.com. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  6. ↑ Parker, Danny (January 16, 2017). "Butch Jones makes change at Vols DBs coach". 247Sports. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  7. ↑ Ray, Matt (February 17, 2021). "Just In: Willie Martinez to Return to Tennessee as Defensive Backs Coach". SI.com. Retrieved September 5, 2025.


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