Martin bolts Vols for 'lovely' Cal
An additional relaxed fan base, milder weather and a chance to instructor at the top-rated public university in the country amounted to Cuonzo Martin making the choice to leave Tennessee for California.
Cal employed Martin as the 16th guys's basketball instructor in institution past Tuesday, a decision that stunned Volunteers administrators and players after he had reaffirmed his dedication to Tennessee simply two weeks ago. Martin stated it was a hard move but the opportunity at Cal was way too much to pass up.
"It's a beautiful spot. I got off the airplane and I just stated, 'Ahhh,'" Martin claimed throughout his introductory news conference in Berkeley. "I believe it has a chance to be special below. I believe that's one of the most appealing point to me. It's an area I could invest the remainder of my life.".
Cal sports supervisor Sandy Barbour shared Martin's deal, which is still being wrapped up, is for 5 years. Financial details will certainly be released at a later date.
Martin additionally stated he will bring "numerous" of his assistant trainers from Tennessee to Cal the moment his deal is comprehensive.
Martin changes Mike Montgomery, which retired last month after 6 seasons in Berkeley. Martin went 63-41 in three seasons at Tennessee, including a 24-13 mark and an appearance in the regional semifinals of the NCAA tournament this period. He likewise was recently the train at Missouri State.
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Martin is successful among one of the most effective university instructors in the past of the San Francisco Bay Location. Montgomery finished his occupation with a 677-317 document, having actually also spent 18 years at Stanford and eight at Montana.
Cal hasn't hired a head teacher that invested the previous season as the head coach at an additional major conference institution because 1954 when it brought in Pete Newell of Michigan State. Newell went on to win the school's only national championship in 1959.
Changing an adored trainer is nothing new for Martin.
Martin, a 42-year-old local of East Saint Louis, Illinois, managed a Tennessee program under NCAA investigation in 2011 and has balanced 21 wins per year. Yet, sometimes, he had a hard time to leave the shadow of previous teacher Bruce Pearl, who led the Volunteers to NCAA event looks in each of his six years on the job.
"For me, as a trainer, your style is your design," Martin mentioned. "I do not mind adhering to guys. I such as gaining from men.".
The decision left gamers, supervisors and supporters back in Knoxville stunned. Tennessee athletic supervisor Dave Hart said he really did not understand Martin was involved in the Cal work until they talked Tuesday morning.
"We did have a conversation. He was quite emotional," Hart shared. "The bottom line is he shared in his heart he believed this was most ideal for (him) and his family.".
Hart shared he wants Martin "nothing but success" at Cal and comprehends why he left after a "hard year.".
When Tennessee was struggling earlier this season, irritated followers started an on the internet request to revive Pearl, that has because been worked with by Auburn. Martin started to silence his doubters when Tennessee revived its period by winning eight of nine games before falling 73-71 to Michigan in the Midwest Regional semifinals.
Martin likewise spoke to Marquette regarding its coaching job a couple of weeks back, but he took his name from factor to consider. Hart shared soon afterward that the college was reworking Martin's agreement. Martin also released a declaration with the university on April 1 declaring his position at Tennessee, claiming "Tennessee is where I wish to be. That has never ever transformed.".
2 weeks later on, it did.
Many of Martin's former Tennessee gamers shared support for the trainer on Twitter. Some even referenced the fan reaction as a factor he left.
"Cannot deal with people any kind of sort of way and expect good in return," created Vols guard Jordan McRae.
Martin, for his part, downplayed the petition. He shared he really did not focus on it in the beginning, then tried to utilize it as inspiration for his gamers during the period's stretch run.
"They just woke up a starving bear," Martin shared. "It had not been a big deal whatsoever.".
Hart shared he did not believe Martin left because of money. Martin was set to make $1.35 million the next two years, which placed him in the bottom one-half of Southeastern Conference trainers, however Hart said Tennessee supplied him a two-year extension worth $1.8 million in each of the following 4 years. Martin's buyout alternative from Tennessee dropped from $2.6 million to $1.3 million on April 1.
Martin is not the just one altering his tune about Tennessee, either.
Kingsley Okoroh, a 7-foot-1 center originally from England who played this period for Westwind Preparatory Academy in Phoenix, announced on Twitter that he has actually switched his spoken dedication from Tennessee to California. Okoroh had verbally dedicated to Tennessee on Monday.
Martin previously acted as train at Missouri State, going 61-41 in three seasons, including succeed totals of 24 and 26 in his last two periods. In 2010-11, Martin assisted Missouri State to the regular-season Missouri Valley championship and was named the seminar's Train of the Year.
As a player, Martin made first-team All-Big Ten honors in 1995 at Purdue when he balanced 18.4 facts per video game and made 91 3-pointers. After playing two seasons in the NBA, he offered on the personnel at his college from 2000-08-- initially as an assistant teacher under Gene Keady and in his last year as associate head coach.
