Former player to return as coach

By Keith Thomas
Summer Editor

It's been a long summer for former Boiler basketball standout Cuonzo Martin. But, according to Purdue's newest assistant basketball coach — announced Wednesday afternoon — it has all been worth it.

Martin's summer consisted of one and half hour commutes as many as six, sometimes seven, days a week from Fishers, Ind., leaving as early as 7 a.m. to arrive on campus for his summer courses. Now that it is complete, Martin will have accomplished two of his personal goals — the title of "coach" and a Purdue diploma, which he will officially receive on Aug 6.

"It's going to feel really good to get those walking papers," said Martin, who will be moving his family to West Lafayette on Aug 15. "It's been almost 10 years since I first stepped on this campus, and now to have a degree and being coaching along side coach (Gene) Keady — it's a dream come true."

The East St. Louis, Mo., native has arrived at this juncture in his career after a successful career due to a lot of hard work. Martin, who said he hasn't gotten to see his wife and 3-year-old son a lot this summer, has taken a long trip in returning to Purdue.

Following Martin's last season at Purdue in 1995, he proceeded to play professional basketball with three brief stints in the NBA, appearing twice in Milwaukee and once with the Vancouver Grizzlies. Following his time in the NBA, Martin spent a lot of time split between the Continental Basketball Association and Europe.

As a team captain for the Grand Rapids (Mich.) Hoops, Martin led the team in scoring for three consecutive years. Following this successful campaign, Martin led the Felize Scandone (Italy) in scoring in 1997.

Although having success in his brief professional career, Martin said he came to understand that his knees — which he had surgery on in the past — couldn't support the everyday demand of a long basketball-playing career.

"I realized I wasn't going to play basketball forever," said Martin.

This is when he realized that the prospect of him becoming an assistant to Keady, who is gearing up for his 21st season at the helm of the Boilers, was a reality.

Now that Keady's coaching staff is once again officially complete — with Martin joining assistant coaches Jay Price and Todd Foster — he couldn't be more pleased with the selection he and his staff made.

"(Martin) knows the intensity it takes and the dedication it takes to be a part of this program," said Keady. "We're sure he'll do a fine job."

Keady has little reason to believe Martin shouldn't do a fine job following the success and player and fan reaction to another former player-turned-assistant coach with Foster last season.

"They (Keady's players) responded well to Todd and they have responded well thus far to (Martin)," Keady said.

Now that Martin, who is still not used to people calling him "coach," can assume official duties as assistant coach, he will perform office duties for the remainder of the month as Keady, Price and Foster depart for recruiting trips.