Darren Kinnard
Section618.com

MARION — After 33 seasons as head football coach at four different schools, Kerry Martin says the time is now to step away. Martin retires with a 232-107 record, including playoff appearances in 27 of his 33 years.

One of the six seasons his team “missed” the playoffs was 2020. There was no postseason that year due to Covid.

Martin nearly retired after the 2019 season. He retired as a teacher the following spring, but decided to return as football coach. Martin says he’s so happy he decided to come back, but knows now it’s time to call it a career.

That career started with one year at Sparta followed by three at Flora. From Flora, Martin moved to Carterville, where he led the Lions to the playoffs in seven of eight seasons, including the 1996 3A State Championship.

Martin made the short move east to Marion where he has spent the last 21 seasons as head coach. He led the Wildcats to the playoffs in 17 of those 21 years including one semifinal and two quarterfinal appearances. Marion won or shared 10 South Seven championships.

Martin’s winning percentage of .684 ranks him in the top 50 of the IHSA’s all-time winningest coaches. He was inducted as a member of the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2013.

(The story will be updated with an interview Thursday).