Martin chronicles get a new chapter
J.R.Rardon
(Published: May 16, 2002)

The last time Chuck Martin ran off to coach at NCAA Division I Liberty University, he made it a point not to buy any green bananas.

That was a smart decision. Four months later he was back in Alaska, resuming a high school coaching career that has produced two Class 3A state basketball championships, eight Class 4A and 3A regional championships and 12 state tournament appearances.

But when Randy Dunton, the former Anchorage Christian School and West High  basketball coach, called in March to offer an assistant coaching position at the Lynchburg, Va., school, Martin was ripe for the picking.

"It's very attractive," said Martin, who says he never actively pursued a college job.  "I'm gonna be making almost the exact same amount as I make as a teacher here in Alaska to coach athletes at that level and see places you see as a Division I coach. Yeah, it's a lot of fun."

 Dunton and Martin, whose first meeting resulted in a shouting match, shared the yuks  when Dunton, a nine-year assistant coach at Liberty, was made interim head coach  just before the start of the 1997-98 season.

Despite going 8-8 in Big South Conference play and notching a shocking road upset of Virginia, Dunton -- and, by extension, Martin -- was let go at the end of the season in favor of former West Virginia head coach Mel Hankinson.

"I think, looking back now, they appreciate the job we did four years ago," said Martin.

After his release, Dunton embarked on a nomadic trek that took him to Marshalltown (Iowa) Community College, an assistant job at Binghamton (N.Y.) University of the  NCAA Division I American East Conference and then back to Liberty -- this time with a five-year deal -- when Hankinson was dismissed after wrapping up his fourth year with a 5-25 record.

 Martin, meanwhile, returned to the Wasilla home where his wife Rebecca and  daughter, Kaylynn, had remained during his months in Lynchburg. And he promptly built on his Alaska resume by snaring the open head coaching job at Wasilla and leading the Warriors in 1998-99 to their first state tournament appearance since 1992.

It looks like Martin's run in Alaska may really be over this time. But as his house goes  up for sale and he packs for next month's departure -- this time with Becca, 10-year-old Kaylynn and 4-year-old son Payton -- his record is secure as one of  Alaska's most successful high school coaches.

Martin, 43, may lack the longevity that made legends of former East head coach Chuck White or Valdez coach Dan Eide, who retired this year after his 25th season. Martin spent five years as the head varsity coach at Houston, five at Colony and four at Wasilla.  But he has never been stingy with the commodity of time.

"I'll tell you what, his whole life is basketball," said Wasilla athletic director Doug Bean, who was also athletic director at Colony during Martin's tenure there. "I think what made him successful is he made (players) believe you had to work at it. And their  work ethic was unbelievable."

 Martin directed camps and hauled club teams Outside to play tournaments every  summer. He prepped individuals for summer camps. He scrounged up any court space he could find -- a hoop in an outdoor hockey rink would do.

 Not so his teams could compete with other small-town squads. So they could compete with the best in the state.
"It was my job to give those kids who wanted to play a lot of basketball an opportunity to compete against Anchorage schools," Martin said. "I think I got too  much credit with those groups. I just spent the time with them."

 Martin never lost touch with Dunton, who he first met in 1985 when Martin was the junior varsity coach at Houston and Dunton was the coach at ACS. On a trip to ACS, Martin arrived to find the times for the girls and boys junior varsity games had been swapped.

 "I was a lot younger and stupider then," Martin said. "I just said, Well, of all the nerve,' and asked who was responsible for this."

Dunton approached along the sideline and responded to Martin's ensuing rant.  "Basically, he proceeded to tell me that one person was running this show, and it wasn't me," Martin said.

That will remain the case at Liberty, though Martin has continued to assist Dunton even when separated by thousands of miles. After Wasilla was dismantled by 6-foot-11 Kodiak senior Nick Billings during a trip to Kodiak in 2001, Martin got home and promptly called Dunton at Binghamton, kick-starting a chain of events that ended with Billings, Alaska's eventual player of the year, playing for Dunton and Binghamton head coach Al Walker this past season.

And among the recruits Liberty was wooing during the NCAA's late signing period this  week was a player from Midland, Texas -- where, coincidentally, Martin has taken his Wasilla team for a holiday tournament the past four years.

"I'm trying to hold down two jobs right now," Martin said with a laugh.
 Well, everywhere he has coached Martin has been able to produce. And now, he'll be able to buy produce.
Reporter J.R. Rardon can be reached at jrardon@adn.com.

Wasilla coach accepts job at Division I college
By Van Williams
Anchorage Daily News
 (Published: March 28, 2002)

One of Alaska's most successful high school basketball coaches is going back to  college.
Wasilla High boys coach Chuck Martin on Wednesday said he is leaving the program after four seasons to return as an assistant coach at NCAA Division I Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. He will serve under head coach and longtime friend Randy Dunton.
"It's a real good fit," said Martin, 43, who was Dunton's assistant at Liberty during the 1997-98 season. "We're obviously good friends."
Dunton, a former West High and Anchorage Christian School boys coach, was named Liberty's head coach on March 6. Fifteen minutes after the announcement, Dunton called Martin and offered him the job.
"I was in shock," Martin said. "I can't imagine what my face looked like."
Martin said he met with Wasilla administration and players on Monday following the Class 4A state tournament and told them his plan to leave.
Martin will depart with a career record of 283-89 over 14 seasons, featuring stops at Houston, Colony and Wasilla. He won two state championships and eight region titles, and his teams advanced to the state tournament 13 times.
"I've been fortunate to have kids who love it as much as I do," Martin said.
Although leaving Alaska will be difficult, Martin admitted, he found the opportunity impossible to turn down.
"I think there are a lot of people in our community who have this perception that I've  pursued a college job. But I never filled out an application," Martin said. "I love living in Alaska. To call it a no-brainer isn't right."
 In Alaska, Martin found a niche for turning around losing programs. It seemed success followed Martin where ever he'd go.
At Wasilla, Martin twice led the Warriors to the state semifinals. Wasilla made it to state for the first time in seven years his rookie season. A year later, the Warriors  won the Region III tournament for the first time in a decade.
At Colony, Martin was the program's inaugural coach and led the Knights to 129 wins  and four Region III titles in six years.
At Houston, he needed only one season to turn a 2-25 program into a two-time state champion.
"I have an obsession with (success)," Martin said. "My secret is really no secret at all. It's time and effort and fundamentals."
Reporter Van Williams can be reached at vwilliams@adn.com.
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Former Assistant Returns To Join
Men's Basketball Coaching Staff

May 4, 2002 • Lynchburg, Va.

 Liberty University Head Men's Basketball Coach Randy Dunton has announced the addition of Chuck Martin to his coaching staff. This marks Martin's second stint as a member of the Flames' basketball coaching staff as he also served as an assistant coach during the 1997-1998 season.

"It is a real joy to have Chuck Martin back on the men's basketball staff at Liberty University," says Dunton. "Chuck is a proven winner, program builder and community leader as he has built a nationally recognized high school program in the state of Alaska."

 "Chuck and Becca Martin will add energy, enthusiasm and proactive values to our community," adds Dunton. "I am very appreciative and respectful of their willingness to leave a thriving position in Alaska and commit to build a special program for our community and University here in Lynchburg."

Martin has posted a 283-89 career record in 15 seasons as a head coach at various high schools in Alaska, leading to two state championships, eight regional championships and 12 trips to the Alaska State tournament, while posting six undefeated seasons in league action.
 "This is a two-fold opportunity for me as I first have the chance to come back to Liberty  University and work at a school that stands for so much," comments Martin on his new position. "Secondly, I consider it a privilege to work with Coach Randy Dunton as he has such a vision for the basketball program at Liberty and I consider it an honor to be a part of  that vision."

Martin comes to Liberty from Wasilla High School in Wasilla, Alaska, where he has served as the head boy's basketball coach for the past five years. This past year, his squad finished with a perfect 13-0 league record and their second-consecutive AAAA Region III championship, while finishing in fifth place at the state tournament. In 1999, he led Wasilla  to a runner trophy in the Region III tournament and was named the Anchorage Daily News Coach of the Year.

School in Palmer, Alaska. While at Colony, Martin led his squad to five-consecutive AAAA sta posting a combined 60-0 perfect record against league opponents during those seasons. Martin was named Region III Coach of the Year in 1994 and 1997 after starting the varsity program at Colony in 1993.

Martin got his start in the prep school coaching ranks in 1987 as he served as the head boy's basketball coach at Houston Jr./Sr. High School in Big Lake, Alaska, for five seasons. Martin led Houston to state championships in 1990 and 1991 and was named the AAA Region III and State Coach of the Year in 1990.

Aside from his coaching positions, Martin has also served as the Director of the Houston Basketball Camp (1988-91), NBC Team Camp Site Director (1999), Alaska Camp of Champs Basketball Camp State Director (1992-1997) and the Wasilla Skills & Shooting Camp Director (1999-2002).

Martin, who originally hails from Eugene, Ore., graduated from Willamette University in Salem, Ore., where he received his bachelor's degree in economics in 1981. He and his wife, Rebecca, have two children - Kaylynn (10) and Payton (4).
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Coach brings enthusiasm
NEW LEADER: Jason Marvel gets endorsement from his predecessor.
By Ron Wilmot
Anchorage Daily News
(Published: May 5, 2002)

On a recent warm and sunny spring afternoon, Jason Marvel was stuck inside a gym watching basketball.
Such is the life of a high school basketball coach. It's a life Marvel is looking forward to.

Marvel, 27, was named the Wasilla boys head coach last week. He replaces Chuck Martin, who is leaving to become an assistant coach at Division I Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.

It is Marvel's first stint as a head varsity coach. He helmed the Wasilla boys C team for one season and previously served as a C team coach for two years in Colorado. Before that he was an assistant for one year at Western Wyoming Community College. He played two seasons at Division II Chadron State in Chadron, Neb.

Marvel has no illusions about replacing a coach like Martin, who in 14 years at Houston, Colony and Wasilla compiled a 283-89 record. Martin coached Wasilla the past four seasons, reaching the state semifinals twice, and won two state titles with Houston.

"I'm following up a legend," Marvel said. "I definitely have big shoes to fill. But that's OK, it's a challenge.

 "I'm 27. Some people look at that as a downfall, but I'm enthusiastic. I look at it as a  plus," he said. "I might not know as much as some coaches, but I've got a passion for the game, and I'm willing to learn it and teach it."

Marvel -- who is not the same Jason Marvel who graduated from Chugiak High and played basketball for UAF -- grew up playing basketball in Wyoming and said his outdoor hoops sessions in the cold sometimes didn't stop until his fingers bled. After his playing days in college ended, Marvel said he missed the game.

"If you can't play, the next best thing is to coach," Marvel said. "I wanted to be around the game."

That's the kind of statement that caught Martin's attention and caused him to endorse Marvel. Martin said Marvel reminds him of himself at that age.

  "While he's inexperienced, he has a good enthusiasm for the game. He has a good  ability to develop relationships with the kids," Martin said. "Not that he's me, but he reminds me of what it takes to be good in this game. He's enthusiastic, and he has the ability to do the work."

One challenge is getting players to buy into his coaching style after so much success under Martin. Marvel said he'll put his stamp on the team, but he won't make big changes.

 "We'll do a lot of similar stuff," he said. "I'm not going to change a good thing." Still, he said, some players have resisted any change at all.  "Some players have said, Coach Martin said to do it this way,' " Marvel said. "I realize that, but I'm not coach Martin."

Martin had no worries Marvel will be successful.  "He'll develop his own style," Martin said. "Every coach thinks their way is the only  way. But I've always believed there are a lot of different ways to win."
 Reporter Ron Wilmot can be reached at rwilmot@adn.com.
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