Honoring a Legacy of Impacting Lives and Developing Titans
Jack Martin with his wife, Pamela, grandson Blake Jones, daughter Devon Martin Jones, grandson Trent Jones, and son-in-law Parker Jones at the dedication of the County College of Morris gymnasium in his honor.
Surrounded by family, friends and numerous former athletes he had coached and mentored, Jack Martin was recently honored for his expansive legacy as the first athletic director at County College of Morris (CCM) when the college named its gymnasium after him.
Martin was named the first director of athletics at CCM in 1968 and served in that position until his retirement in 2002. The college’s gymnasium which now holds his name includes his signature on the floor with the notation “Jack Martin Gymnasium.”
“The house that Jack Martin built at CCM now bears his name” was the headline in the Daily Record article written by Ed Forbes, a close friend of the Martin family.
On Saturday, February 19, Martin thought he was coming to the gym with his wife, Pamela, and daughter Devon Martin Jones and her husband, Parker, to watch his grandson Blake Jones at basketball practice. What he found instead were nearly 100 former Titan athletes, college officials, family, friends and coaching colleagues gathered to honor him at the dedication.
The college started to develop its plans to name the gymnasium after Martin following his induction into CCM’s inaugural Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019.
“If life is measured in impact, I don’t know anyone else who has impacted more people than you, Jack,” said Dr. Anthony J. Iacono, CCM president.
“This is so special,” said Martin, overwhelmed with gratitude, who turned 80 on February 5.
“I am extremely happy for Jack and the Martin family. This is an honor that is well deserved,” said Jack Sullivan, who became CCM’s second athletic director when Martin retired. “I am grateful for his continued support of the County College of Morris Athletic department. I consider him a mentor who has influenced me immeasurably. I cannot think of a better way to show our gratitude than by having our gymnasium bear his name.”
Along with directing and growing CCM’s athletic programs, Martin served as head coach of the men’s basketball team, working with hundreds of athletics during the course of his career at the college.
He was recognized as part of his career for serving as past president of the Garden State Athletic Conference (1975; 1982 and 1989); chair of the Region XIX Standards & Ethics Committee (1988-2002); member of the Colonial Athletic Association NJ Executive Board (1988-2002); recipient of the Garden State Award (2004); charter member and tournament director of Morris County High School Basketball Tournament; Executive Committee member of the New Jersey College Basketball Coaches Association (1979-1992); and recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award – Morris County All-Sports Association and Special Recognition Award – New Jersey Special Olympics (1982).
Martin served as the men’s basketball coach from 1968 – 1998, capturing eight New Jersey state titles, three Region XIX Championships and numerous national tournament appearances. Currently, he is the winningest two-year college coach in New Jersey history (569 victories) and second all-time among two- and four-year colleges and universities.
Martin developed a nationally recognized athletics program that produced 35 New Jersey State Championships, 29 Region XIX titles and the recognition of 85 athletics and academic all-Americans. His basketball program history includes eight New Jersey Garden State Athletic Conference Champions, three Region XIX (Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey) Crowns, three National Tournament appearances, and 15 seasons with more than 20 victories. He also produced eight two-year college All Americans, a 1991/1992 team – 30-5 – ranked #1 in the nation and was voted New Jersey Sportswriters Coach of the Year multiple times (1977, 1979, 1989, 1991, 1992 and 1995).
He is a longtime member of both the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and the National Alliance of Two Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA) and served on a variety of national committees during his tenure.
During his time on the NATYCAA Executive Committee, Martin secured a partnership with Pepsi-Cola North America (2004) to be the primary corporate sponsor. With former player Terry Ryan, Martin developed and initiated the NATYCAA/Pepsi Cup promoting athletic excellence at over 400 two-year community and junior colleges.
Martin has been inducted into four previous Hall of Fames:
- 1997 – National Junior College Basketball Coaches – 1st New Jersey Inductee
- 2011 – Morris Hills Regional High School
- 2012 – NATYCAA
- 2013 – NACDA
To view additional photos from the dedication, go to https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzDeC5/.
