Martin returns to the helm of the Manvel football program

March 11, 2023

Kirk Martin was named head football coach for the Manvel Mavericks in 2006 when the school opened for the Alvin ISD school district. He was the head coach from 2006 to 2017 and compiled an impressive 108-25 coaching record that included two state title game appearances (2011, 2017) while also advancing to five regional finals (2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016).

Now, in 2023 -- Martin has returned as the Head Coach/Assistant AD for Manvel once again.

"I helped open up Manvel and I have so many great memories here," Martin said. "Four kids here and I'm just ecstatic to get the opportunity to come back home. This is home. This is where my kids are from. It's where I'm from. It's just home.

"This is the very best district in the country in my opinion. I'm so excited to be able to come back here and finish what I started. I love it and I just can't wait to get rolling with those kids and get back in that Hoka Hey spirit."

In 2017, Martin departed Manvel for Syracuse University where he became the quarterback coach for two years. He returned to Texas in 2020 to become head coach for Grapevine Colleyville Heritage where he guided them to a 28-7 mark with playoff appearances in all three seasons including a region finalist appearance in 2021.

Martin's first game back at Manvel will ironically come against former assistant Brad Butler's Shadow Creek Sharks with the second annual Bill Lewis/HWY 288 Gridiron Classic opening the season for area squads at Freedom Field.

"I heard about last year," Martin said. "They basically sold the thing (stadium) out and I wouldn't expect it to be any different. I helped design the stadium but didn't get to coach in it (until next fall). That will be really fun to be in that state-of-the-art facility. It's a special place."

Martin started his coaching career in 1993 at Cathedral High School and helped them to their first winning season in 12 years, while a three-year stay at 5A El Paso Riverside featured three district championships. He held the same position under Ron Lynch (1996-97) at Alvin High School and was later the assistant head coach under Mike Bass (1998-2000) here.

Martin then served as the passing coordinator at Odessa Permian (2000-2003), the offensive coordinator at 3A Giddings (2003) and took his initial head coaching job at 2A Alpine (2004-2006) before coming to Manvel.