Walter Johnson High School cross country and track & field coach Tom Martin, known as “Marty” by his athletes, is one of ten finalists for the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) 2025 Coach of The Year Award.
PCA writes, “What sets “Marty,” as he is affectionately known by his athletes, apart is how effortless the friendships and camaraderie grow among teammates under his guidance. Somehow, without being overly sentimental, Marty’s daily anecdotes and actions showcase the importance of showing up for friends, being helpful without a request, and having a light-hearted attitude toward stress.”
The WJ Pitch (Walter Johnson’s student newspaper) shared that “Martin’s recognition comes after 29 years of coaching WJ athletes as a cross country and track and field coach. Through multiple school records and hundreds of meets, Martin has coached some of the fastest athletes in WJ history and has made an impact on hundreds. However, Martin hadn’t always expected to be coaching.
“In the ‘90s, [former WJ athletic director Tom] Rogers started coaching at Walter Johnson,” Martin said. “And by this time I had been just working for myself, I had opened up a consulting business. And he says ‘if you got time, if you could come help me coach the distance runners in the afternoons.’ And I started coming out a couple times a week, and I started loving it. So I told all my clients ‘no meetings after two.’”
PCA emphasizes that at Walter Johnson High School, many students start their running journey unsure about the sport and their commitment level. Coach Marty believes that fun should be central to this experience, with responsibility naturally following. Known as the “Yoda” of the running community, he helps timid athletes gain confidence and improve their performance throughout high school.
Marty prioritizes the well-being of each runner, making them feel valued regardless of their race outcomes. He instinctively understands their moods and cares about their lives outside of running. Instead of trying to solve their problems, he simply listens when they have a tough day. Coach Martin consistently stresses the importance of enjoying the sport, aiming for running to be a lifelong activity filled with positive memories for his athletes at Walter Johnson.