University of West Alabama

Sterling Martin enters his eighth season as head coach of the UWA cross country programs and the second as leader of the track and field teams.

Joining the UWA staff in 2018, he added track and field duties in the summer of 2022. 

In 2024, Martin guided West Alabama's Augusta Arnold, Brayden Harris, and Balikis Yakubu to individual GSC Championships. Furthermore, Balikis was a two-time All-American in er time with the Tigers.
 
Martin came to West Alabama in 2018 as the head cross country coach but has a history of holding the reins on both programs before coming to UWA. He served as the head men's and women's cross country and track coach at Missouri University of Science and Technology for 14 years. Previous head coaching stops include men's cross country and track at Bowling Green (1998-02) and men's cross country at Drake (1993-98).
 
He has also served as assistant men's and women's track and field coach at Drake (1990-98), as well as holding volunteer coaching posts at Iowa State (1989-90) and Northern Iowa (1987-89).
 
Martin earned Great Lake Conference coach of the year honors four times while winning three GLVC Outdoor Championships and one GLVC Indoor Championship. He has coached nine Capital One Academic All-Americans, 31 school record holders, 29 conference championship performers and five All-Americans. Student-athletes under Martin's supervision graduate at over 90 percent.
 
He has also served as both first and second vice-president from Division II track and field for the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
 
Martin earned his Bachelor of Arts in Education from Drake in 1987. He has also earned the TAC Coaches Training Program Level II Distance and Endurance in 1996, in Sprints and Hurdles in 1991 and the TAC Coaches Level I in 1990.