Michigan State hiring Oregon assistant Demetrice Martin
Michigan State finalized its on-field coaching staff with the hiring of Oregon assistant Demetrice Martin, sources tell SpartanMag.com. The former Spartan defensive back will return to East Lansing, where he played from 1992-95. He is expected to aid Michigan State secondary coach Blue Adams with the Spartan defensive backs.
Martin spent the previous two seasons at Oregon working with the program’s cornerbacks while holding the additional title of pass game coordinator.
Martin has spent the majority of his coaching career out west. He coached cornerbacks at Colorado (2020-21) and Arizona (2018-19). He also spent time as defensive backs coach at UCLA (2012-17) and Washington (2009-11).
Beginning his career at wide receiver, the Pasadena, Calif., native played four season for the Spartans. Martin earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors in 1994, after transitioning to defensive back. He led the conference with seven interceptions.
Martin earned a spot on the St. Louis Rams’ practice squad in 1996. He would spend the subsequent three seasons playing in NFL Europe and the Arena Football League.
After his playing career, Martin was hired as defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Monrovia (Calif.) High School in 1999. In 2001, Martin joined the John Muir (Calif.) High School coaching staff as defensive backs coach.
Martin moved on from the high school coaching ranks in 2001, accepting a secondary coaching role with Pasadena (Calif.) City College. He would spend two seasons on staff at the junior college before taking the same position at Walnut (Calif.) Mt. San Antonio College.
After the 2005 season, Martin accepted his first job at the Division I level, working as a defensive graduate assistant at USC. He assisted the Trojans’ defensive backs coach at the time.
Martin returned to Mt. San Antonio College in 2008 spending one season as the junior college’s pass game coordinator and secondary coach.
