Piedmont University Athletics

Terry Martin - Softball Coach (Bio at time of induction)
As the longest-tenured head coach on the Piedmont athletics staff, Terry Martin entered his 19th season as the head coach of the Piedmont College softball program in 2017. Over his last seven seasons as the leader of the successful program, Martin’s Lady Lions have posted an incredible run with more than 200 wins, five NCAA National Tournament appearances, three conference tournament titles, and five conference regular season championships.
 
Martin has spent every season in his career as a head coach leading Piedmont tallying an overall record of 440-287-1 (.605 winning percentage) with now his more than 400 victories putting him just inside the nation’s top 50 in winningest active Division III head coaches by win total. With an outstanding mark of 14 seasons of at least 20 wins, four with 30-plus, and 2014’s 40-plus wins, the longtime PC skipper is also a six-time conference Coach of the Year having notched the award in 2001, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2011, and 2014.

Under his steady leadership having coached the Lady Lions in more than 700 total contests, the softball program has earned six NCAA tourney appearances (2006, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016) overall.  In three of their last four NCAA showings, the Lady Lions have ousted several regional favorites and nationally ranked opponents to post three straight regional finalist finishes earning some of the athletic department’s best post-season finishes in its NCAA affiliation.
 
Martin also has nine conference regular-season championships (2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016), four conference tournament titles (2005, 2010, 2011, 2014), and three National Christian College Athletic Association National Championship appearances (2004, 2005, 2006) where the Lady Lions finished in third place nationally during the 2006 season.

In addition to his teams’ success on the field, Martin’s groups have been just as consistent with their work in the classroom having ranked nationally in the top ten of the NFCA Division-III Team Academic Award three times (2003, 2008, 2009) including a runner-up finish in 2009. Eleven Lady Lions have garnered the NFCA’s top individual academic award as All-American Scholar-Athletes during Martin’s tenure as well.

As a native of Toccoa, Georgia, Martin traveled north to New York earning his undergraduate degree from NCAA Division II member Nyack College where he was an All-Conference and All-American catcher for the Warriors. Martin also holds a masters degree from the United States Sports Academy located in Mobile, Alabama.