TicketsWillie Martinez, a veteran of 30-plus years in the defensive coaching ranks, joined the University of Cincinnati staff in 2017 as the cornerbacks coach.
Martinez, who spent 14 years coaching in the Southeastern Conference, joins the Bearcats after a four-year stint at Tennessee, most recently serving as the Volunteers assistant head coach and secondary coach.
He has coached or played in 19 bowl games, been a part of five conference title winning squads and won a national championship while a defensive back at Miami (Fla.) in 1983.
Over the last 14 seasons, Martinez has mentored 13 all-conference selections, six All-Americans, 16 student-athletes chosen in the NFL Draft and had 14 players he coached on NFL rosters during the 2016 season.
During his time at Tennessee, he coached standout defensive back Cameron Sutton, a shutdown corner for the Vols from 2013-16. Sutton set UT’s career mark for passes defended (37), was a 2015 Sporting News First-Team All-America selection at punt returner, a member of the SEC All-Freshman squad in 2013 and played in the 2017 Reese’s Senior Bowl. Another of Martinez’s charges, safety Evan Berry, was 2015 Consensus All-America selection at kick returner.
Martinez’s defensive backs averaged over 13 interceptions per season while at Tennessee and his 2014 squad had 16 picks to rank 15th nationally and third in the SEC. Nigel Warrior (2016) and Todd Kelly Jr. (2014) both earned spots on the SEC All-Freshman Team under Martinez’s tutelage.
In his first season at UT, helped the defense to force five W. Kentucky turnovers in a span of six plays over five consecutive series, including an NCAA-record four turnovers on consecutive defensive plays, highlighted by back-to-back pick-6s by Justin Coleman and Sutton.
He coached at Auburn in 2012, serving as secondary coach after spending the 2010-11 seasons as the defensive backs coach at Oklahoma, helping Sooners to a 23-5 record and the Big 12 Championship in 2010.
The Sooners, led by Consensus All-America safety Quinton Carter, led the Big 12 in scoring defense (22.1) and finished eighth in the NCAA in pass efficiency defense in 2010. DB Tony Jefferson was the conference’s 2010 Co-Defensive Freshman of the Year and an honorable mention all-league selection.
Prior to Oklahoma, Martinez worked as Georgia's secondary coach from 2001-09 while earning a promotion to defensive coordinator in 2005. He helped the Bulldogs to 90 wins, two SEC titles, three division crowns, seven bowl victories and six top 10 finishes, including No. 2 in 2007 and No. 3 in 2002
As Georgia's defensive coordinator from 2005-09, he guided the defense to several national top statistical rankings including eighth in scoring defense in 2005, fifth in passing defense, eighth in total defense in 2006 and eighth in sacks in 2007
Martinez joined the Bulldogs after spending 1998-2000 at Central Michigan. He served as assistant head coach and secondary coach at Central Michigan in 2000 as the Chippewas led the NCAA in passing defense (149.7 yards per game) and was the secondary coach from 1998-99.
He was the secondary coach at Eastern Michigan in 1997, defensive coordinator and secondary coach at UCF in 1995-96, secondary coach Central Michigan in 1994 when the Chippewas won the Mid-American Conference Championship, and defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Grand Valley State in 1992-93
Martinez coached in the Florida high school ranks in 1991 at Olympic Heights H.S. and in 1990 at Boca Raton H.S.
In 1988 served as the quarterbacks and receivers coach at Bethune-Cookman helping the Wildcats to a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championship. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Miami (Fla.) from 1985-86.
A native of Hollywood Hills, Fla., Martinez played defensive back for four seasons at Miami, where he won the 1983 National Championship and earned a bachelor’s degree in 1985. He was an all-state selection and area defensive player of the year as a standout quarterback and defensive back at Hollywood Hills HS from 1977-81.
Martinez and his wife Kim have three children, Christina, Ashley and William
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Born: February 21, 1963
Hometown: Hollywood Hills, Florida
Wife: Kim
Children: Christina, Ashley, William
Education: Miami (Fla.) (1985, B.S.)
Year in Coaching: 32nd
PLAYING CAREER
1981-84 Miami (Fla.) (Defensive Back)
COACHING CAREER
YEAR: SCHOOL - POSITION
1985-86: Miami (Fla.) - Graduate Assistant
1988: Bethune Cookman - Quarterbacks/Wide Receivers
1989-90: Boca Raton HS - Secondary
1991: Olympic Hts. (Fla.) HS - Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
1992-93: Grand Valley State - Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
1994: Central Michigan - Secondary
1995-96: UCF - Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
1997: Eastern Michigan - Secondary
1998-99: Central Michigan - Secondary
2000: Central Michigan - Assistant Head Coach/Secondary
2001-04: Georgia - Secondary
2005-09: Georgia - Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
2010-11: Oklahoma - Secondary
2012: Auburn - Secondary
2013: Tennessee - Safeties
2014-16: Tennessee - Assistant Head Coach/Secondary
2017-: Cincinnati - Cornerbacks
BOWLS COACHED IN
YEAR: SCHOOL - BOWL
1985: Miami (Fla.) - Sugar
1986: Miami (Fla.) - Fiesta
1994: Central Michigan - Las Vegas
2001: Georgia - Music City
2002: Georgia - Sugar
2003: Georgia - Capital One
2004: Georgia - Outback
2005: Georgia - Sugar
2006: Georgia - Chick-fil-A
2007: Georgia - Sugar
2008: Georgia - Capital One
2009: Georgia - Independence
2010: Oklahoma - Fiesta
2011: Oklahoma - Insight
2014: Tennessee - TaxSlayer
2015: Tennessee - Outback
2016: Tennessee - Music City
BOWLS PLAYED IN
YEAR: SCHOOL - BOWL
1983: Miami (Fla.) - Orange
1984: Miami (Fla.) - Fiesta
Martinez, who spent 14 years coaching in the Southeastern Conference, joins the Bearcats after a four-year stint at Tennessee, most recently serving as the Volunteers assistant head coach and secondary coach.
He has coached or played in 19 bowl games, been a part of five conference title winning squads and won a national championship while a defensive back at Miami (Fla.) in 1983.
Over the last 14 seasons, Martinez has mentored 13 all-conference selections, six All-Americans, 16 student-athletes chosen in the NFL Draft and had 14 players he coached on NFL rosters during the 2016 season.
During his time at Tennessee, he coached standout defensive back Cameron Sutton, a shutdown corner for the Vols from 2013-16. Sutton set UT’s career mark for passes defended (37), was a 2015 Sporting News First-Team All-America selection at punt returner, a member of the SEC All-Freshman squad in 2013 and played in the 2017 Reese’s Senior Bowl. Another of Martinez’s charges, safety Evan Berry, was 2015 Consensus All-America selection at kick returner.
Martinez’s defensive backs averaged over 13 interceptions per season while at Tennessee and his 2014 squad had 16 picks to rank 15th nationally and third in the SEC. Nigel Warrior (2016) and Todd Kelly Jr. (2014) both earned spots on the SEC All-Freshman Team under Martinez’s tutelage.
In his first season at UT, helped the defense to force five W. Kentucky turnovers in a span of six plays over five consecutive series, including an NCAA-record four turnovers on consecutive defensive plays, highlighted by back-to-back pick-6s by Justin Coleman and Sutton.
He coached at Auburn in 2012, serving as secondary coach after spending the 2010-11 seasons as the defensive backs coach at Oklahoma, helping Sooners to a 23-5 record and the Big 12 Championship in 2010.
The Sooners, led by Consensus All-America safety Quinton Carter, led the Big 12 in scoring defense (22.1) and finished eighth in the NCAA in pass efficiency defense in 2010. DB Tony Jefferson was the conference’s 2010 Co-Defensive Freshman of the Year and an honorable mention all-league selection.
Prior to Oklahoma, Martinez worked as Georgia's secondary coach from 2001-09 while earning a promotion to defensive coordinator in 2005. He helped the Bulldogs to 90 wins, two SEC titles, three division crowns, seven bowl victories and six top 10 finishes, including No. 2 in 2007 and No. 3 in 2002
As Georgia's defensive coordinator from 2005-09, he guided the defense to several national top statistical rankings including eighth in scoring defense in 2005, fifth in passing defense, eighth in total defense in 2006 and eighth in sacks in 2007
Martinez joined the Bulldogs after spending 1998-2000 at Central Michigan. He served as assistant head coach and secondary coach at Central Michigan in 2000 as the Chippewas led the NCAA in passing defense (149.7 yards per game) and was the secondary coach from 1998-99.
He was the secondary coach at Eastern Michigan in 1997, defensive coordinator and secondary coach at UCF in 1995-96, secondary coach Central Michigan in 1994 when the Chippewas won the Mid-American Conference Championship, and defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Grand Valley State in 1992-93
Martinez coached in the Florida high school ranks in 1991 at Olympic Heights H.S. and in 1990 at Boca Raton H.S.
In 1988 served as the quarterbacks and receivers coach at Bethune-Cookman helping the Wildcats to a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championship. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Miami (Fla.) from 1985-86.
A native of Hollywood Hills, Fla., Martinez played defensive back for four seasons at Miami, where he won the 1983 National Championship and earned a bachelor’s degree in 1985. He was an all-state selection and area defensive player of the year as a standout quarterback and defensive back at Hollywood Hills HS from 1977-81.
Martinez and his wife Kim have three children, Christina, Ashley and William
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Born: February 21, 1963
Hometown: Hollywood Hills, Florida
Wife: Kim
Children: Christina, Ashley, William
Education: Miami (Fla.) (1985, B.S.)
Year in Coaching: 32nd
PLAYING CAREER
1981-84 Miami (Fla.) (Defensive Back)
COACHING CAREER
YEAR: SCHOOL - POSITION
1985-86: Miami (Fla.) - Graduate Assistant
1988: Bethune Cookman - Quarterbacks/Wide Receivers
1989-90: Boca Raton HS - Secondary
1991: Olympic Hts. (Fla.) HS - Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
1992-93: Grand Valley State - Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
1994: Central Michigan - Secondary
1995-96: UCF - Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
1997: Eastern Michigan - Secondary
1998-99: Central Michigan - Secondary
2000: Central Michigan - Assistant Head Coach/Secondary
2001-04: Georgia - Secondary
2005-09: Georgia - Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
2010-11: Oklahoma - Secondary
2012: Auburn - Secondary
2013: Tennessee - Safeties
2014-16: Tennessee - Assistant Head Coach/Secondary
2017-: Cincinnati - Cornerbacks
BOWLS COACHED IN
YEAR: SCHOOL - BOWL
1985: Miami (Fla.) - Sugar
1986: Miami (Fla.) - Fiesta
1994: Central Michigan - Las Vegas
2001: Georgia - Music City
2002: Georgia - Sugar
2003: Georgia - Capital One
2004: Georgia - Outback
2005: Georgia - Sugar
2006: Georgia - Chick-fil-A
2007: Georgia - Sugar
2008: Georgia - Capital One
2009: Georgia - Independence
2010: Oklahoma - Fiesta
2011: Oklahoma - Insight
2014: Tennessee - TaxSlayer
2015: Tennessee - Outback
2016: Tennessee - Music City
BOWLS PLAYED IN
YEAR: SCHOOL - BOWL
1983: Miami (Fla.) - Orange
1984: Miami (Fla.) - Fiesta