(Tucson, AZ) Bill McCulloch
New Aztec Softball Assistant Coach Jennifer Martinez is as “local” as you can be. She was born in the Old Pueblo and spent her entire softball career inside the State of Arizona.
While playing for the Tucson High Badgers, Martinez became a star third baseman known for a big stick. Her selection to the 2001 5A All Region Team was no surprise. Ironically the new Head Coach of the Aztecs, Rebekah Quiroz was the player of the year in 1999-2000 at Flowing Wells High.
Continuing to play at the next level, Martinez enrolled at Pima Community College and played for the Aztecs in 2002-03.
Jenn had very consistent numbers throughout her short stint at Pima and caught the eye of Arizona Coach Mike Candrea who signed Martinez in 2003.
Both Martinez and Quiroz we named on the 2003 U.S. NJCAA Team that competed in the Canada Cup.
It didn’t take long to realize that Martinez had a big swing and became one of the best power hitters to ever come out of Tucson.
After winning the Pac-10 Title in 2005, she sent the Wildcats on to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City by belting a walk off home run (left) against the Oklahoma Sooners in the Super Regionals at Hillenbrand Stadium.
After the conclusion of her Wildcat career, Martinez joined the Aztec Staff in 2006 under former Wildcat player and then Head Coach Stacy Iveson. In her first year as an Assistant Coach, she helped the Aztecs win a NJCAA National Championship.
While still coaching for Pima, she joined the Arizona Heat Professional Softball League in 2008.
Click on logoMartinez would coach at Pima College until 2012. Still remaining active in softball as a private hitting instructor in Tucson, Jenn has always stayed with the game of softball that she loves. With a wealth of hitting experience and knowledge she’s ready to pass that along to the 2019 Lady Aztecs and beyond.
Always having a very close relationship with Rebekah Quiroz as a player in high school, teammates at Arizona and on the Canada Cup Team, it was only natural for her to return to the West Campus to assist Quiroz in the reloading of Aztec Softball.
Although the program missed the post season for the first time in twenty two years last season, it’s in great shape ready to challenge for the title in 2019.
Legendary Coach Armando Quiroz, who just retired after stellar careers at Flowing Wells High School and Pima College definitely left the cupboard full for daughter Rebekah to continue the tradition that Aztec Softball has attained.
Currently, Jennifer is the proud mother of one year old Vivian.
Both Rebekah Quiroz and Jennifer Martinez will be our special guests on a Thursday Edition of 520 Sports Talk at Frog & Firkin in the heart of University Main Gate Square off of Euclid Ave and University Blvd. The Broadcast starts at 7 pm on www.facebook.com/520sportstalk
