COACH OF CHARACTER AWARD WINNER

Albert Martins

University of California, Merced

Albert Martins, head men’s soccer coach at UC Merced (Calif.), has been chosen as this year’s NAIA Coach of Character. To Coach Martins, the teaching of character is what he does each day with his student-athletes. From recruiting to coaching to teaching, the importance of building character is ingrained in all of Coach Martins’ interactions.

Martins is committed to reaching out to student-athletes in the Central Valley of California for whom college has not been a priority, much less to play soccer at the collegiate level. It is this commitment to providing access to higher education, with a focus on developing character, that is the starting point for Martins to begin building the family spirit of his team. Current student-athletes say coach Martins “serves as a father figure and role model when they need it the most.” Martins genuinely loves giving back to the community and being an example for young people.

Martins’ commitment to the development of character with his student-athletes is unparalleled. Helping develop young men into great members of society is just as important as wins and losses to Coach Martins.