LUBBOCK, Texas – Mike Martin, a 2019 inductee into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame and the winningest college baseball coach in history, died on Thursday. He was 79.

“I know Coach Martin’s health had not been good recently but I am still heartbroken to see the news of Coach Martin’s passing,” said Mike Gustafson, Director Emeritus of the College Baseball Foundation. “My memories of him are great, all involving a big smile on his face - from countless phone calls to his Hall of Fame induction to sitting with him for his oral history in Tallahassee in 2020 right before the COVID shutdown. On behalf of the Board of Trustees and staff at the College Baseball Foundation, our hearts go out to his family, friends and all who were touched by his life.”

When Martin, nicknamed “Eleven,” which was his jersey number at Florida State, retired following the 2019 season, he was the winningest coach in the history of college baseball at any level. He coached the Seminoles for 40 years and led them to 40 consecutive winning seasons and 40 NCAA Tournament appearances. His teams advanced to 17 College World Series, tied with Cliff Gustafson as the most appearances by a coach. Martin also played baseball at Florida State in the 1960s, batting .352 in his two years as a player.

For more on Martin’s contributions to college baseball, visit https://www.mlb.com/college-baseball-hall-of-fame/class-of-2019#martin.