Clay Martin rejoined the North Central College football coaching staff prior to the 2025 season as the special teams coordinator and cornerbacks coach. Martin coached two AP 1st Team All-Americans and led special teams meetings during the Cardinals' run to the national championship.
Martin first coached for the Cardinals as a defensive graduate assistant for the Cardinals in 2022, serving as the team's nickels coach. In the team's first undefeated season in history, he managed defensive recruiting efforts, film breakdown, and social media promotions.
Martin began his coaching career at Beloit Memorial High School in Beloit, Wis., serving as the school's defensive coordinator while also managing the team's linebackers and running backs.
Martin then launched his collegiate coaching career at Milikin University in 2021 as the team's running backs coach before adding the team's tight end group to his responsibilities the following year.
Martin also served as the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at North Park University beginning in the 2023 season before stepping into the role of head defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach in the 2025 season. In his time at North Park, he led the 4th-ranked defense in the CCIW and received Division III Region 5 Coaching Staff of the Year honors.
A native of Warrenville, Ill., Martin graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milkwaukee with a bachelor's degree in science in advertising and media studies.
