Corryn Martin would be lying if she said she knew it was always
going to happen this way – but she couldn’t be happier that it
did.
As a former Baler – she was a four-year member of the girls golf
team before graduating in 2005 – Martin loved the town where she
was raised.
Corryn Martin would be lying if she said she knew it was always going to happen this way – but she couldn’t be happier that it did.
As a former Baler – she was a four-year member of the girls golf team before graduating in 2005 – Martin loved the town where she was raised.
“That’s the best part – I’m from right here,” she said. “I was basically born and raised here and I wanted to come back at some point. I consider myself a native from here.”
Less than a year ago, Martin, 24, was given that opportunity. After becoming a teacher at a charter school in Southern California, San Benito High offered her a full time job as an upperclassmen English teacher.
After a brief discussion wither her husband, Martin welcomed Hollister back into her life. At the time, though, she had no intention of becoming a coach.
That all changed early in the summer, when she was approached by Athletic Director Tod Thatcher and offered the position of the new girls golf coach.
“She was exactly what we were looking for,” he said. “It was a bonus she was an actual Baler.”
And being a Baler is something Martin takes to heart.
“It’s supper special,” she said. “What it does is provide a connection that is so unique. I’ve been there. I’ve been in your seat. I’ve been in your school. I know what that’s like because I’ve been there.”
Martin continued, “Me coming back and providing them with that experience is really cool. I’m just super excited. I’m super proud to be a Baler.”
After graduating from San Benito High in 2005 as a four-year member of the school’s golf team, Martin went to college at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo were she graduated in 2009 with a degree in English. Afterward, Martin received her teaching credential and masters degree at University California, Irvine.
But as she was living in Southern California, Martin started to miss home, she said.
“It was just so busy – I didn’t know anybody and it got to the point where a job opportunity came up here,” she said. “We (Martin and her husband) are more small-town, mellow-life type people so we came back.”
So Martin returned to the place where her teaching dream was sparked – San Benito High.
“This place made me want to be a teacher,” she said looking around her classroom. “I knew from here I wanted to be a teacher.”
Because Martin brings a coaching mentality to the classroom, she eventually wanted to get into coaching but never expected the opportunity to come so soon.
“I definitely knew I wanted to do it – eventually,” she said. “This opportunity came up and they approached me about it – I didn’t even know it opened up. And you know what … it was a great opportunity.”
Becoming a coach is natural progression for Martin, who always wanted to be a teacher. She is active in the classroom and has played sports all her life.
“For me personally, I’ve always had that coach’s mentality – I bring that to my classroom,” she said. “I’ve been told, when people come in, I teach like a coach. Because I walk around and I’m always calling on students. It’s like a really active environment.”
She continued: “Plus, I was involved in sports constantly when I was a kid. I played softball for like forever. I played soccer and of course golf.”
She started playing golf her freshman year at San Benito High and her first teacher was the man she is replacing, Chris Branon.
“It means so much that I’m going to be able to continue what he was doing,” Martin said. “He did such a great job. He made this a great program – he made it. It’s an honor to follow him.”
And out of respect for her former mentor, Martin doesn’t expect much change – except for a change of venue from Ridgemark Golf and Country Club to San Juan Oaks Golf Club. The course’s golf pro, Alfonso Castillo will be the team’s assistant coach.
But Martin will make sure she does all the things Branon did right, she said.
“I know he has taken the program in an awesome place so I just want to continue with what he has been doing,” she said. “We are very consistent in what we believe. At this point I just want to keep up with everything he has done. Keep giving the girls all these opportunities that Chris has created.”
And that’s why she was perfect for the job, Thatcher said.
“I’m extremely excited for her,” he said. “She is stepping into some big shoes but I’m fully confident she’ll do well.”
Martin’s first step will be creating a relationship with her team – which she hopes to consist of a full varsity and junior varsity squad. Martin expects 12 returning girls and incoming freshmen to fill the team.
“I’ve heard great things about the girls. I’ve met some of them,” she said. “The most important thing I’ve seen thus far is the positive attitude radiating from them. I can only expect great things from them.”
She continued, “I’m just going to take this team to wherever I can, and I know they can be very successful.”
