Joey Martinez enters his 16th season at the helm of Menlo College Men’s Wrestling, continuing a legacy of excellence that has redefined the program’s national profile. As only the second head coach in program history, Martinez took over the reins from Keith Spataro—now Menlo’s Athletic Director—after serving as his assistant for four seasons.
In 2024–25, Martinez guided the Oaks through their historic transition to NCAA Division II, finishing with a 9-3 dual meet record and a perfect 5-0 mark at home. Under his leadership, the team excelled in its debut season in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF), capturing the inaugural MPSF Championship and securing 11 All-Conference honors and three individual MPSF champions.
Because of NCAA transition regulations, Menlo also competed in the National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) for postseason competition, where Martinez led the Oaks to their first-ever national title:
• 2025 NCWA National Team Champions
• 3 NCWA Individual National Champions
• 10 NCWA All-Americans
• 2025 NCWA West Coast Conference (WCC) Champions
• 10 WCC All-Conference Honorees
• 6 WCC Individual Champions
Since taking over in 2009, Martinez has transformed the Menlo Wrestling program into a perennial powerhouse, accumulating:
• 7 Individual National Champions
• 48 All-Americans
• 2 NAIA Outstanding Wrestlers of the Year
• 38 NAIA All-Americans
• 168 National Qualifiers
• 119 Regional Qualifiers
• 4 Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) Team Championships
• 6 CCC Outstanding Wrestlers of the Tournament
• 38 CCC All-Conference Honorees
• 4 CCC Athletes of the Year
• 3 Academic Valedictorians
• National Podium Finishes:
• 2nd Place – NAIA National Championship (2020)
• 3rd Place – NAIA National Championship (2024)
• 4th Place – NAIA National Championship (2023)
A Menlo College Hall of Fame inductee (2012), Martinez is equally celebrated for his remarkable career as a wrestler. He began at Skyline College, where he posted a historic 61-0 record and became a two-time California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) State Champion, holding the highest winning percentage in CCCAA history.
He then transferred to Menlo College, where he continued to shine:
• 2x NAIA All-American
• 2x Team MVP
Martinez still holds several records at both Skyline and Menlo, and he remains a proud alumnus, having graduated from Menlo College in 2003 with a degree in Psychology.
