2012-13 BETHEL COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL
JODY
MARTINEZ
44
FORWARD MISHAWAKA, IND. // MARIAN HS Martinez was a local kid from Mishawaka Marian High School. His coach was none other than a young Mike Lightfoot. When reflecting back on those times, Lightfoot said, “He was the last guy on the team his freshman and sophomore years, he played some junior varsity his junior year, and then something happened.” The behind-the-scenes effort that was engrained in his work ethic finally paid off for Jody, who always found himself at the local park working on any possible post move he could do to become better.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
“I wasn’t sure what to expect out of Jody his senior year, and man, did he ever exceed everyone’s expectations,” said Lightfoot.
1990 NAIA All-American HM 1990 NCCAA First Team All-American 1990 NAIA Scholar Athlete 1990 Gates Automotive Team MVP 1989 NCCAA First Team All-American 1989 NAIA Scholar Athlete 1989 Gates Automotive Team MVP 1988 NCCAA First Team All-American 1988 Crossroads League First Team 1988 Gates Automotive Team MVP CAREER RECORDS Points Scoring Avg. Rebounds Blocks Field Goals Made Field Goals Attempted Free Throws Made Free Throws Attempted Field Goal Pct. Free Throw Pct. Games Played
In his senior campaign at Marian, Jody became the team’s Most Valuable Player. Martinez’s passion for wanting to get better sparked the interest of Bethel College and head coach Homer Drew.
TOTAL 2,620 18.1 1,728 197 1,007 1,683 603 743 .598 .812 145
RANK 3rd 8th 1st 2nd 3rd 5th 2nd 3rd 4th 7th 8th
SEASON RECORDS YEAR TOTAL Points 1988-89 803 1989-90 745 Rebounds 1987-88 494 1988-89 488 1989-90 456 Steals 1989-90 92 Blocks 1988-89 62 1989-90 44
RANK 4th 9th 1st 2nd 3rd T-7th T-2nd T-10th
94
The skinny center signed his letter of intent to play for Drew’s Pilots, coming into Bethel at 6’6” and 165 points. It was only up from there as Jody’s determination and continued work ethic became contagious from the start. At the end of Martinez’s first season in 198687, Homer Drew took the head coaching position at IU South Bend before making a home at Valparaiso. As resumes poured in for the open position at Bethel, the one chosen by the Bethel administration was a youthful high school coach named Mike Lightfoot, who would once again see himself coaching Martinez. “Jody had developed in so many ways since his days at Marian,” said Lightfoot. “He had a patented duck-under move and a reverse layup that couldn’t be stopped. He was very “Larry Bird-ish” in how he played the game.”
Not only was Martinez a threat with the basketball, but he was also the Pilots’ vocal leader. He did anything he could to make sure his teammates got better. As his final season with the Pilots came to a close, Jody had placed himself on top as Bethel’s all-time leading scorer with 2,620 career points and all-time leading rebounder with 1,728 career rebounds. His #44 jersey was the first to be retired in Bethel College athletic history in 1990. His number was not only retired for what he did on the hardwood, but also for what he accomplished at Bethel College. “Jody’s jersey was retired because he exemplified what a Bethel basketball player should stand for,” said Lightfoot. “He is a perfect example of someone who came to Bethel just to play basketball, but left changed.” He became a spiritual leader and developed academically. He allowed Christ to mold him and through his solid effort and hard work both on and off the court. He was the perfect candidate to make sure no one else would wear his uniform.” Three of his four single season scoring marks rank in the top ten and three of his four single season rebounding marks rank as the top three in Bethel history. Martinez also ranks second in career blocks with 197 and fourth in career field goal percentage at .598.