Biography

Mike Martin has excelled as a high school coach for years!  You usually associate Coach Martin as the man who started Attleboro High School gymnastics program in 1974, but he also brought that same dedication and passion to the gridiron.  Coach Martin coached 14 years at Attleboro during two separate tenures.  From 1972-1978, the knowledgeable Martin guided the freshman team and then later returned from 1992-1998 under Cliff Sherman as the wide receiver/defensive back coach.  Coach Martin demanded excellence and effort from his players whether at practice or during a game.  At practice, Martin believed in breaking down the assignments for his wide receivers or defensive backs, so they understood why they were doing the task at hand.  Coach Martin’s players benefited from this well-informed approach!

The tough minded Martin also wore the Blue & White of Attleboro from 1964-66.  Coach Martin’s own playing experience and insight laid the foundation for his confident approach when conveying his message to his teams.  Martin acknowledges that the success of the teams in the 1990’s has a direct correlation to the head coaching experience of the entire coaching staff.  Martin along with Sherman, Jay Gilmore, Kevin Deschenes, Lou Gazzola and Mark Houle were all head coaches at some point during there coaching careers.  This experience and leadership translated into consistency, which created an environment for success.  On Thanksgiving Day 1994, the Bombardiers demonstrated this theory in beating North 22-8.  Martin, who joins in his son, Tyler, in the Hall of Fame, cherished watching his son excel on the gridiron as he stood close by each day.  Some of Coach Martin’s special memories include Attleboro’s 35-13 thrashing of Dartmouth to clinch the first league championship since 1971 and the comeback win in 1993 over Mansfield, 36-24 after trailing by 18 points at the half.  Also, Martin recalled the stunning 19-16 upset loss to North in 1992 and Attleboro first Super Bowl appearance in blizzard like conditions a week later.

Mike Martin, also known as the “Silver Fox”, is now retired after teaching 35 years in the Attleboro School System.  Martin also continues to coach gymnastic at Attleboro High.