In over a decade under his direction, Vassar Baseball has been elevated to a new standard of excellence and high level of respect in the ever-competitive Liberty League under head coach Jon Martin. Martin, the all-time winningest baseball coach in Vassar history, has been able to construct a program that has not only produced over 30 All-Liberty League selections, but compete in the Liberty League Championship Tournament for the first time in program history. His 2013 and 2014 teams clinched the program’s first back-to-back playoff appearances, as well as victories, since the program joined the conference in 2000.
The 2014 season was easily the best team assembled in Vassar history. The Brewers finished 19-14 overall and 14-7 in Liberty League play. Not only did they secure a spot in the Liberty League Tournament, but also boasted 9 All-Liberty League selections, as well as the Liberty League Player of the Year (Brett Zaziski) and the program’s first Liberty League Pitcher of the Year (Adam Erkis). Since coming to Poughkeepsie, Martin has had 12 players placed as All-New York Region selections and the record books have been re-written with 32 new single season records and 15 career records. Two of his former players (Mike Perrone ’13 and Brett Zaziski ’14) signed professional contracts with independent franchises in the US and both players are still playing to this day. Several former Brewers have played/coached professionally overseas in Germany and Spain, becoming international ambassadors to the game.
Martin, known as a relentless recruiter, has been able to expand a database to cover all 50 states in the U.S. Members of the Vassar Baseball coaching staff are consistent and familiar faces at many Ivy League summer camps, as well as Head First Honor Roll, Showball, and Under Armour Top 96. A noted clinician, Martin specializes in pitching and takes pride in his philosophies to develop the “complete pitcher” over the course of a student-athletes’ four-year career. Over the past decade, Vassar pitching staffs have seen a dramatic improvement on the field physically and statistically.
Coach Martin is no stranger to the international game as he has been involved with USA Athletes International and Planet Baseball, which assemble teams from coast-to-coast to compete in international tournaments across the globe. Martin has been fortunate to represent the United States in tournaments located in the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Spain, Japan, and Caribbean Islands. In 2010, his team for USAAI comprised of college all-stars was crowned as gold medal recipients of the Robur ’58 Tournament in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Being involved in all facets of college baseball is particularly of interest for Coach Martin as he currently serves as the New York Region Chair on the NCAA Division III National Baseball Committee (2014-Present). He has served on the NCAA Regional Advisory Committee (2008-11), as well as the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) DIII Executive Committee (2008-14).
Coach Martin is a proud graduate of Lynchburg College, in Virginia (B.S. in 2001, M.Ed. in 2003). He was named the Lynchburg College Pitcher of the Year in 2000, and LC Baseball team captain in 2001. His coaching career began at his alma mater in 2003, as he helped develop the Hornets into a conference and regional contender. At LC, Martin served as pitching coach and recruiting coordinator, as well as Facility/Event Manager within the Athletic Department.
Active in the local community, Martin is constantly involved in local service organizations such as the American Heart Association and Habitat For Humanity.
In addition to his coaching duties, Martin also serves as the Facilities Coordinator at Vassar and resides in Poughkeepsie.
