Coach Willie Carl Martin Honored at Alexander City Ceremony
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Alabama head football coach Nick Saban was in Alexander City today to honor Willie Carl Martin, the Crimson Tide’s Director of Player Development who is retiring after decades of coaching.
Alabama News Network was the only television station there.
Central Alabama Community College welcomed both coach Nick Saban and coach Willie Martin for this special event. This room was filled with adoring fans of both men.
Willie Carl Martin was the man of the hour Tuesday afternoon as his friends, family and fans met to honor him at his retirement ceremony. Martin is stepping away from football, after almost 30 years of coaching.
“They say you can always go back home and this is a very special day for my community,” he said. “This is something I’ve been looking forward to, representing not only myself but the players that played for me.”
Martin was born and raised in Alexander City and coached at Benjamin Russell High School, leading them to the school’s only state championship. In 2007, Alabama Head Football Coach Nick Saban hired him to be the team’s Director of Player Development.
“A lot of these young players need role models, people to look up to,” Saban said. “And Willie Carl had a great personality. The players really respected him a lot.”
Saban had only high praise for Martin, saying his services helped countless athletes on and off the field
“I know Willie Carl was in this community as a leader for a long time and as a coach and he did a marvelous job with our program.”
Saban’s wife Terry says Martin will be missed.
“If a player had to get up a five o’clock in the morning and run, Willie was the first one there.”
Although Martin will no longer be on the sidelines, he will continue to help students through a need-based endowed scholarship that’s been started in his name.
“We’ve raised 75 thousand dollars in an endowed scholarship for needy people who are going to be finishing at the local high school here, Benjamin Russell,” Lake Martin Bama Club President Buddy King said.
“Anytime you do something to help someone, it’s very special for me and the kids,” Martin said. “the purpose I like, being able to take another step and help other people.”
Martin was the first black player ever offered a scholarship by Bear Bryant.
School officials say Coach Willie Martin’s legacy will continue on through this scholarship.
Benajmin Russell High School graduates headed to Central Alabama Community Colllege or the University of Alabama are eligible for the scholarship.
