Former longtime Valley hoops coach now the Wasilla High activities director

WASILLA — During his 14 years as a boys’ basketball head coach in the Valley, Chuck Martin established himself as one of the state’s most successful basketball mentors.

After coaching at the NCAA Division I and NAIA Division I levels since 2003, Martin is back in the Valley with an opportunity to serve a different role in high school athletics. Earlier this summer, Martin was named activities director at Wasilla High School.

“It’s very nice to be back,” Martin said recently of his return to Alaska. “My wife and I always knew we would come back to Alaska. The greatest 17 years of my life were spent in Alaska.”

Martin, who replaces longtime Wasilla activities director Paul Cossette, said he’s also excited about his new opportunity at Wasilla High. Martin has been either a high school head coach or college assistant or head coach since he took over the Houston Hawks boys’ basketball program in 1987. Martin was most recently the head coach of the NAIA Division I program at The Master’s College in California. After he left that position following the 2013-14 college season, Martin said he intended to step away from coaching, at least a little while. His plan was to pursue something in athletic administration.

Martin and his wife, Rebecca, had seriously discussed a return to Alaska for some time, he said. If he pursued another position at the high school level, he said, he’d like to do that in Alaska. He’d been offered high school positions in California in the past, but was never completely interested.

Cossette resigned to take another position within the Mat-Su School District in May, and the Wasilla activities director spot opened. That combined with his family’s desire to return to Alaska, presented a potential opportunity for Martin.

“All the stars kind of aligned,” Martin said.

Martin returns to Wasilla, where he was once the head coach of the boys’ basketball program, after eight years as head coach at The Master’s College. He was 131-118 during his time with the NAIA program. Prior to coaching at the Santa Clarita, Calif., school, Martin was the associate head coach at Division I Liberty University. During his time at Liberty, Martin helped guide the Flames to a Big South Conference title and a trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2004.

Martin’s illustrious high school coaching career in the Valley included 14 years as a head coach, a 283-89 career record, eight conference titles, 12 state tournament appearances and two state championships. He was named the Northern Lights Conference Coach of the Year three times and the Alaska State Coach of the Year three times.

Martin took the helm of the Houston Hawks boys’ basketball program in 1987 and led the Hawks to a pair of state titles before making the move to Colony in 1991. Martin was the first head boys’ basketball coach in CHS history, and served as the Knights head coach for six seasons. He was also the head coach of the Wasilla boys’ basketball program from 1998-2002.

Martin’s stellar reputation in Alaska basketball also includes the number of notable Valley hoops coaches who have either played for or coached with Martin. Colony boys’ head coach Tom Berg played for Martin at CHS. Colony girls’ head coach Jeff Bowker, former Palmer and Wasilla boys’ head coach Jason Marvel and former longtime Colony girls’ head coach Don Witzel, one of the winngest coaches in Alaska history, all served as assistants on a Martin coaching staff. Martin also coached with Phil Engebretsen, the former Colony head coach, and older brother of current Wasilla boys’ head coach Ryan Engebretsen.

Martin has spent the bulk of his adult life on the basketball court, but has experience in a variety of sports. He was a four-sport athlete in high school, and was recruited out of high school by Division I baseball programs. Martin said basketball has always been a passion, but he is excited for the chance to also work with teams outside of basketball.

“I’m not an expert in football, swimming or cross-country. My goal is to help coaches understand all the dynamics of building a program. My message since I got to Wasilla: I’m just another cog in the system. I just want to do the best job I can, make Wasilla High School and athletics as first-class as we can with the resources we have,” Martin said.

Martin said he’s also thrilled with the chance to work with the Wasilla High administrators (principal Amy Spargo, and assistants Jeff Nelles and Ed Ripley), each noted for their overall support of extra-curricular activities.

“That’s one of the reasons I’m excited about this job,” Martin said. “I wouldn’t be interested in a job with people with oversight over me who weren’t passionate about (athletics).”

Nelles said the Wasilla High administrators are excited to have Martin a part of the team.

“His reputation definitely precedes him,” Nelles said of Martin.

Nelles said Martin’s long career in high school coaching in the Valley and his experience at the college level will make him a valuable asset, and aid to both the teams and student-athletes. Nelles said Martin could also be a valuable resource for Wasilla student-athletes with aspirations to compete on the college level.

“His experience will help bridge that gap for the student-athletes going to the next level,” Nelles said.

Nelles said he believes Martin will be a valuable asset to all of the school’s coaches and sports.

“He really wants to help better athletics at Wasilla High School. That means working with our coaches, all coaches, to help be an asset to them, a mentor. I think he’s going to help elevate all of our programs,” Nelles said.

Noting his excitement for the addition of Martin, Nelles also praised the work of Cossette.

“(Chuck Martin) has some really big shoes to fill, but we’re confident he’ll pick up where Paul left off,” Nelles said.

In addition to his work with student-athletes and coaches, Cossette is known statewide, recognized as one of Alaska’s most popular public address announcers for high school sports.

After eight years as the Wasilla activities director, Cossette accepted a position as a graduation coach at Mat-Su Central. At Mat-Su Central, Cossette will continue to mentor students, but in a different capacity.

“It was a fantastic job. I loved it,” Cossette said of his experience at Wasilla High. “I kind of look at it, I believe in term limits. I did my two terms in office. It was a great experience. I loved my time with Wasilla High.”

The ability to spend time with family factored into the decision, he said.

“The best thing about me being in that job, was me meeting my wife,” Cossette said.

Cossette said he has committed to serving as the public address announcer for Wasilla home varsity football games during the upcoming season.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.