Matthew Martin was born into coaching long before he ever held a score card. His father was the Morehead State men's basketball coach the year Matthew was born, and his mother was a standout basketball player at Morehead State before becoming a coach herself. "They were coaching me as long as I can remember, both in golf and with basketball," Martin said. "It was something kind of always in the back of my mind."
Those early years shaped a life defined by teaching, leading, and lifting others. Today, as the men's golf coach at Morehead State, Martin doesn't just teach swings—he builds people. "The best thing about Morehead State is the people and the community that rallies and just wants to see everyone do well," he said. "Getting to represent them is the best thing for me and our players."
Coaching was in Martin's blood, but his path to golf wasn't a straight line. After a formative college experience at Transylvania University under Coach Brian Lane, Martin initially dipped his toes into basketball, serving with Bourbon County Boys Basketball. But when the Morehead State golf job opened, everything clicked.
"I went all in," he said. "And I'm so thankful that Brian Hutchinson took a chance on a young coach without head golf experience."
Martin's coaching philosophy is a mosaic of the mentors who shaped him—his parents, his high school coaches, and especially Coach Lane. "I would say he's the biggest influence outside of my family," Martin said. "And we have a great resource in our department in
Kelly Wells, who coached and had a ton of success before he became AD."
Martin's proudest memories aren't always measured by trophies. One of his most meaningful moments came when a player battled through academic struggles to earn his degree. "To have him get through some adversity and just really battle hard to become a Morehead State graduate, that is something that has to top the list," Martin said.
On the course, the highlights are etched in championship pressure. He points to the two individual OVC titles—Nick Wilkins in 2018 and Joe Mushong in 2022—as defining moments. "Seeing their hard work culminate in those championships is special," he said. "And getting to see them compete at the NCAA regionals—we're hoping to do that some more for sure."
But the memory that lights him up most is a team triumph forged in the dark—literally. In 2021, post-COVID, Morehead State staged a final-round back-nine charge to tie UT Martin, forcing a playoff as daylight faded. "Our guys performed in the clutch to get the victory," Martin said. "Seeing how excited they were for each other and getting to accomplish that together and seeing every shot—that one's going to be hard to top."
Golf is often seen as a solitary game, but Martin loves how college golf transforms it into something collective. "We take an individual sport and it becomes a team sport," he said. "We have to win two matches to win the OVC championship."
That team-first mentality shapes his recruiting, too. Scores matter, but so does character. "After that, what kind of teammate are they going to be?" he said. "I like athletes, I like guys that are going to be leaders on a team."
He also looks for players who will thrive in Morehead. "Morehead is a special place, and I want somebody that realizes that," Martin said.
Martin's daily message to his players is simple but powerful: "The two things you're always in control of—your attitude and your effort."
He teaches his team to manage adversity one shot at a time. "Take all the information in that you can, let the negativity go, and make the best decision possible," he said. "Approach each shot with a great state of mind, and then accept the result, no matter what."
It's a philosophy that extends well beyond golf. "You do that over and over again, over the course of 18 holes in a day and 54 holes in a tournament," he said. "That's when you start to see growth."
For Martin, Morehead State isn't just a job—it's family. "Starting with my dad and now getting to coach in the same place as my wife, Sarah. It's special," he said. "That's really the best word to describe what this place means."
Sarah, also a coach at Morehead State, is his sounding board and his partner in growth. "Having another coach in the house and being able to bounce things off each other, it makes me better for sure," Martin said.
And if you visit the Martin home, you'll meet the rest of the team—seven cats and a dog. "They're all great mascots," he said with a laugh.
Martin doesn't lean on one quote, but he loves the wisdom that fits the moment. One line he often shares comes from Arnold Palmer: "Golf is the most frustratingly rewarding game in the world."
"The game will beat you down," Martin said, "but keep getting off the mat, and it will take you places that you would never otherwise go."
That's the heart of
Matthew Martin's coaching—resilience, belief, and community. He teaches his players to compete, to care for each other, and to carry themselves with grace under pressure. And in a place that feels like home, he's building something that lasts longer than any scorecard."
