University of Minnesota Athletics
Martens Named Gopher Men's and Women's Diving Coach
5/9/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
As the head coach at the South Australian Sports Institute since 1999, Martens coached three Olympic athletes, six World Junior finalists and 13 Junior National champions. Named coach of the year in 2001, he also served as the 2000 and 2002 head coach of Australia's Junior World Championship team. Martens was the National Coaching Director for Diving Australia, where he wrote a Level 1 coaching manual and coordinated national accreditation clinics.
Before arriving at the South Australia Sports Institute, Martens was the head coach of the Texas Aquatics club team from 1994-1999. During his tenure, Martens coached four Junior National champions, six USA National Team members, three USA Junior Team members, two national high school champions and coached divers to two national scoring records.
Martens was a former diver for the Gophers in 1982-83 and earned a bachelor of arts degree in political science in 1996. Martens, an Anoka, Minn. native, also served as a volunteer Golden Gopher assistant men's and women's coach and physical education instructor from 1988-1993.
" We attracted an outstanding pool of candidates for this position and were fortunate that we had three exceptional finalists," Associate Athletics Director Karen Weaver said. "Mike was a top choice by both the student-athletes and the head coaches, and clearly will be a fine addition to the Gopher coaching staff."
