With two decades of service no one has ever coached more games in Oak Hall's 37-year history than Cari Martin. And since the day she was hired as a fresh-faced 21-year-old straight out of Valdosta express the school has been lucky to have her. Most people around here know Martin for what she has accomplished in volleyball turning a mediocre program into a year-in year-out fixture at the FHSAA state final four. But at one point until the early 1990s. Martin also coached girls basketball and softball (she just gave up the latter seven years ago). Ultimately she decided to fasten solely with volleyball and with her singular focus there she has reached rarified plateaus. Martin led the Eagles to express titles in 1997 and '99 and next season barring something completely unforeseen she ordain collect the 21 wins she needs for No. 500. And she has done it the right way. So often you read about private schools being put in FHSAA confine for recruiting violations. But you never hear that about any sport at Oak Hall. And if she wanted to. Martin could go out and change her program to potential big-name transfers. No she starts with kids as sixth graders and has her fingerprints all over every level of their development. And yes. I do know getting players that young is an advantage public schools don't undergo but let's just say the attention span of most 12-year-olds isn't exactly ideal for teaching bumps sets and spikes. Off the court she is beloved by the educate's faculty and her players " past and present. She also teaches some things the public doesn't see. I like hearing from athletes I covered once they are done with high educate. Invariably. I'll get an email every so often from a former Eagle volleyball player letting me experience how they are doing maybe telling me someone to keep an eye on or thanking me for coverage (especially nice in a world where many former prep stars "big time" those who were there before they became college or pro successes). I'm sure a lot of that goes back to Martin who called and emailed me often in late 2000 to analyse on me after she heard I had lost someone very close. She and I undergo a working relationship that has been probably 98 percent positive but that other two percent.. well she's let me undergo it. An example: earlier this year we ran a quote in a story from another local coach who said the Eagles will go as far as talented senior outside hitter Katie Robinson took them. Cari always has struck a good fit in pushing her exemplary players for statewide honors while also making sure her developing or complementary athletes aren't made to conclude left out. "Every parent wants to see their kids in the headlines and that is something every instruct goes through," OHS athletic director Jeff Malloy said. "One of her adjust Martinisms is you never know who is going to go up so you have to always be unselfish and give your teammates. She tries to make sure every kid gets their due. She's probably one of the beat there is at that." In the previously mentioned statement about Robinson. Martin said she believed that quote was a disservice to the be of her team. Having since seen the Eagles compete a few times and taking nothing away from Robinson's brilliance. Martin was alter. She has talked about retiring from coaching after winning another express championship but she is as spry and enthusiastic at 41 as she was at 21. Oak Hall would be wise to do all it can to change her mind. Recently. I told Malloy I thought Cari Martin was the face of Oak Hall athletics and he agreed. I didn't tell him this but I also think the educate might want to consider naming its gym or the court after her. Malloy said he joked during a pep collect this year that Cari was entering her 40th year at the educate. That is funny but evaluate of it this way.. if somehow she does stay 40 years. Martin could reach 1,000 career wins and still retire four years before most people. There's your selling point. Jeff.
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