The Emporia and ESU communities welcomed back one of their own on Tuesday. Former player, coach, and graduate John Martin was officially introduced as the next head baseball coach at Emporia State by athletic director Steve Rodecap with a little assist from Martin’s daughter Emmie.
Martin returned to ESU after a decade at Central Oklahoma where he led the Bronchos to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances. Martin said it was a tough decision to leave the program.
He said he had always had his eye on the Emporia State job, however, and had always wanted to coach the Hornets.
Rodecap said Martin was everything he wanted in a baseball coach, Rodecap’s first official hire as ESU AD.
Martin replaces Brad Hill who departed the program after two years to join the staff of a former player who is now the head coach at Dartmouth.
