RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Baseball Head Coach Derek Matlock announced on Friday the promotion of Rob Martinez to associate head coach. Martinez has served as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for UTRGV since July 2019.
 
As UTRGV's recruiting coordinator, Martinez has played a significant role in most signings since he arrived. Six of Martinez's recruits earned All-Western Athletic Conference (WAC) honors, including RJ Ochoa in 2021, Kevin Stevens in 2021 and 2022, Montclair Cain in 2022, Isaac Lopez and Brandon Pimentel in 2022 and 2023, and Angelo Cabral in 2023. 
 
"Coach Martinez is an integral member of our staff that is involved with all aspects of the game," Matlock said. "He earned this promotion by showing us his incredible work ethic and ability to connect with our players and recruits."
 
In 2023, UTRGV finished the season with a 30-26 record, including a winning record on the road for the first time since 2000. Martinez spent most of his coaching time working with the position players on hitting. UTRGV ranked in the top 100 nationally in five offensive categories, including batting average at .301 (37^th), on-base percentage at .394 (71^st), hits with 579 (90^th), runs with 406 (98^th), and slugging percentage at .466 (100^th).
 
"I'm fired up that Coach Matlock decided to give me this opportunity. This promotion gives me confidence that I am representing the university the right way," Martinez said. "I am excited to help continue the growth of this program."
 
In 2022, UTRGV finished the season with a 33-25 record, including an 18-8 record at home. UTRGV ranked in the top 100 nationally in five offensive categories, including batting average at .290 (69^th), triples with 14 (79^th), hits with 563 (90^th), slugging percentage at .454 (92^nd), and home runs with 63 (96^th).
 
Martinez handled pitch calling responsibilities during his first two seasons, helping the pitchers to rank in the top 100 nationally in three categories in 2022, including shutouts with 5 (17^th), strikeout-to-walk ratio at .216 (94^th), and strikeouts per nine innings at 8.9 (99^th).
 
In 2021, Martinez's first full recruiting class arrived on campus and helped lead UTRGV to the WAC Tournament Championship Series for the first time in program history. UTRGV finished the season with a 32-26 record, including a program record 20 WAC wins. UTRGV led the WAC in three categories, including runs scored with 371 (45^th in NCAA), slugging percentage at .442 (77^th in NCAA), and runs per game at 6.4 (82^nd in NCAA). UTRGV ranked second in the WAC in five categories, including doubles with 107 (41^st in NCAA), batting average at .284 (61^st in NCAA), on-base percentage at .377 (77^th in NCAA), ERA at 4.61 (81^st in NCAA), and home runs with 50 (97^th in NCAA).
 
Prior to his time at UTRGV, Martinez compiled a 103-68 (.602) record in three seasons as the head coach at Howard, winning at least 32 games and advancing to the NJCAA Regionals every year.
 
Martinez was promoted to head coach after serving as an assistant coach in 2015, his second stint with Howard. He was an assistant from 2011-13, winning two Western Junior College Athletic Conference Championships while going 128-48 (.727).
 
In 2014, Martinez was the head coach at El Paso Community College (EPCC), where he developed Eudor Garcia and Jeremy Rivera in 2014. Garcia was named NJCAA National Player of the Year and selected in the fourth round of the MLB Draft by the New York Mets. Rivera was a 17^th round pick selection of the Boston Red Sox.
 
Martinez had previous experience with EPCC as he started in 2009 as their hitting coach and recruiting coordinator. He also served as the bench coach for the El Paso Diablos of the American Association in 2010.
 
Martinez began his career as an assistant coach at East Central Community College, helping the team to win a conference championship in 2007.
 
Martinez developed around 100 NCAA Division I student-athletes during his time coaching in junior college.
 
Martinez played collegiately at Howard, earning First Team All-American honors and the Rawlings Big Stick award for the Southwest District by hitting .448 with seven home runs, 17 doubles, and 70 RBI in 2004. Martinez finished his playing career in 2006 at the University of West Alabama, where he was named First Team All-Conference twice. Martinez earned his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education in 2008.
 
In addition to coaching collegiately, Martinez served as the head baseball coach and physical education instructor at Eastwood High School in 2015. Martinez played at Eastwood, earning All-State honors in 2002 and 2003.

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