The 1982 USILA National Player of the Year, Kevin Martin ’82 was one of the best lacrosse defenders to ever wear the Purple and Orange. He appeared in four NCAA tournaments, leading the Statesmen to three national championship games, winning back-to-back national titles in 1981 and 1982.
Martin was an anchor on the back line for Hobart, grabbing a record 220 career ground balls. He also contributed on the offensive end, posting nine points on three goals and six assists.
Originally an attackman, Martin converted to the defensive end of the field under Head Coach Jerry Schmidt. His aggressive style of play earned him several national awards, including the USILA William C. Stiles Award in 1981 and 1982, which is presented to the national defenseman of the year. He was also named Hobart’s Most Valuable Defenseman in each of his final two seasons on campus. Martin was named Hero Inc.’s Outstanding Defenseman in Division II/III after his senior year.
The two-time first team All-American captained the Statesmen during the 1982 NCAA Division III Championship run which culminated in defeating Washington College in overtime for Hobart’s third of what would be 12 straight national titles. Martin and the Hobart defense allowed just 7.86 goals per game that season, and only one Division III opponent scored more than eight goals against the Statesmen all season. After his senior year, Martin was named the NCAA Division III National Player of the Year, as well as the recipient of the Noel Filipino Award for Outstanding Leadership. He was also a North-South All-Star.
Martin was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity and studied abroad in Israel. After graduation, he worked in the Colleges’ development office before attending Syracuse University College of Law, where he graduated magna cum laude.
Martin remains involved in the game of lacrosse. He coached the Hobart “B” team to an 8-3 record in 1983, which included wins over both Nassau and Herkimer Community Colleges. In 1984, he helped spread the game of lacrosse by coaching at the Stockport Cricket Club in England. That same year, he and his brother, Michael ’84, played on the first team representing the Haudenosaunee in international competition at a demonstration tournament just prior to the Los Angeles Olympics and continued playing for several years thereafter. Martin also co-founded the Clinton Lacrosse Club in Clinton, New York, as well as the Elder Statesmen Lacrosse Club in 2004, made up of Hobart alumni.
Martin was inducted into the USA Lacrosse Upstate New York Chapter Hall of Fame in 2022.
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