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Cuonzo Martin is in his sixth year on the Purdue
coaching staff.
After a four-year professional career, Martin
completed his degree in restaurant, hotel,
institutional and tourism management at Purdue in
the summer of 2000.
Martin, who graduated from Lincoln High in East St.
Louis, Ill., and attended New Hampton Prep School in
New Hampshire, came to Purdue in 1991. He finished
four years later as one of the finest Boilermaker
players ever. He currently ranks 11th on Purdue's
all-time scoring list with 1,666 points, good enough
for a 13.1 average in his 127 games.
His best year was his senior season, when he
averaged 18.4 points per game while shooting 43.9
percent from the floor, 46.9 percent from
three-point range and 79.9 percent from the free
throw line.
"Coaching at my alma mater is a dream come true for
me," says Martin. "I prepared for this opportunity
my entire career because I knew even as a college
player that my playing days would be limited due to
the condition of my knees. I always focused on
coaching. I believe I can help guys become better
players. It's really special to be able to play for
a guy like Coach Keady and then get to coach with
him."
Martin was an emotional leader for the Boilermakers,
as well as a long-distance specialist, compiling a
179-for-390 (.459) mark on three-pointers his last
two years after going 0-for-7 from long range his
first two seasons. He led the Big Ten in three-point
shooting as a senior and was fourth in scoring while
helping the Boilermakers to their second of three
consecutive outright Big Ten titles. He also was
named to Dick Vitale's All-Defensive Team in 1995.
During Martin's four years, Purdue was 90-37,
including 54-12 the last two years, with a pair of
conference titles.
Martin played professional basketball for four
years, with brief NBA appearances with the Milwaukee
Bucks twice and Vancouver Grizzlies once. He spent
most of his playing time in the Continental
Basketball Association and Europe. He was team
captain and leading scorer for three seasons with
the Grand Rapids (Mich.) Hoops and was leading
scorer for the Felize Scandone team in Avellino,
Italy, in 1997.
In addition, Martin also conducts his own basketball
camp each summer in East St. Louis. |
