Corban Announces Rachel Martin as Head Softball Coach

7/12/2019 3:44:00 PM

Jarett Thoren, Director of Athletic Communications

SALEM, Ore. – The Corban University softball team officially has its leader. Rachel Martin was announced as the program's new head coach on Friday by Warrior athletic director Twiggs Reed.

"Coach Martin brings a wealth of softball knowledge and experience to our program," said Reed. "As a Corban graduate herself, her passion and enthusiasm for the school, for student-athletes, and for the game of softball is contagious. Her desire to make a positive impact for the team on the field, in the classroom, and in the players' walk with Christ made coach Martin the obvious choice for this position."

No stranger to the university or the softball program, Martin graduated from Corban with a degree in physical education in 2014. She has played an integral role as an assistant coach with the team since 2017. In 2019, she served as the team's hitting and strength coach, while also working with the team's outfielders.

Under her direction, the nationally-recognized Warrior lineup saw increases in team batting average (.322), slugging percentage (.469), on-base percentage (.383), and stolen bases (134) in 2019. During her time in leadership, the Warriors garnered 10 All-Conference honorees, four CoSIDA Academic All-District award-winners, two Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) Gold Glove outfielders, a pair of National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region award-winners, and an NAIA All-American.

A decorated alum of the program, Martin stands as one of the Navy and Gold's all-time great catchers. After competing as the starting backstop for NCAA Division I Centenary College of Louisiana, she transferred to Corban for the final three years of her collegiate career.

While wearing the Navy and Gold, she was named to the All-CCC team in 2012, eventually earning NAIA Second-Team All-American plaudits for her outstanding performance on the diamond. Martin was a part of the first Corban softball team to ever claim the CCC regular-season title in 2013.

Martin (formerly Rachel Conard) is currently tied with Warrior legend Stephanie Nippert for the program record (.481) in single-season batting average. Additionally, she is fourth all-time in single-season slugging (.827), second in single-season on-base percentage (.600), seventh in career RBIs (106), third in career on-base percentage (.502), and sixth in career home runs (23).

Having played an essential part in developing the program over the past two years, her detailed knowledge of the team makes her an ideal fit to continue Warrior softball's tradition of excellence.

"I would like to thank Twiggs and the search committee for this great opportunity," said Martin. "I am so grateful and humbled to be the head coach at Corban University, and I cannot wait to build upon the strong and competitive foundation that has been established for Warrior softball. I couldn't be more excited to get back on the field and campus to continue working with our amazing student-athletes and make a difference in our community and in our sport."

Martin will inherit a team that is coming off its third-consecutive appearance in the NAIA National Tournament, concluding the 2019 season with a heartbreaking loss to Campbellsville University in the Opening Round.

The program has become a staple of the NAIA Coaches' Top-25 poll, and will look to excel to even greater heights under Martin's leadership.