Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame names Matt Martin executive director

When he was a child, Matt Martin would tag alongside on golf outings along with his grandfather and his associates and take heed to their tales.

“My dad and mom all the time joked that I might all the time navigate to the oldest individual within the room to listen to what they needed to say,” Martin mentioned with amusing.

Martin, 38, discovered a priceless and, in all probability, deteriorating talent: find out how to pay attention. That high quality ought to serve him effectively in his new position as the manager director of the Indiana Basketball Corridor of Fame.

The hiring was introduced Monday by Corridor of Fame president Mark Baltz.

Martin, in his eighth 12 months because the athletic director at Knightstown Excessive College, replaces Chris Might, who introduced his resignation final month. Might will support Martin within the transition earlier than stepping apart June 15.

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“It’s a dream job to have the ability to promote Indiana basketball,” Martin mentioned. “It wasn’t even on my radar in any respect till I noticed Chris was stepping down.”

The extra Martin thought in regards to the job, the extra it made sense. He taught historical past. He loves basketball. He lives close to the Corridor of Fame in New Fort. And he has many connections in the highschool athletics world. Martin is at the moment a member of the Indiana Excessive College Athletic Affiliation government committee (he was the president of the manager committee in the course of the 2019-20 college 12 months) and obtained a stamp of approval from IHSAA commissioner Paul Neidig.

 However Martin is aware of there may be nonetheless lots to study.

“What I’m going to should atone for and study from Chris is the little nuances of the job and the historical past,” he mentioned. “Whenever you discuss to Chris, he’s like an encyclopedia of Indiana basketball. Like Donald Davidson is to the (Indianapolis 500). He is aware of find out how to join all the pieces.”

Martin graduated from Knightstown and Purdue. He and his spouse Rachel are dad and mom to sons, Gary and Oliver.

The Corridor of Fame obtained a significant renovation final 12 months — named the Ron and Charlotte Warrick Legends Undertaking — after the couple that left their complete six-figure property to the Corridor once they died (Ron in 2018 and Charlotte in 2021). These upgrades, which embrace new lighting, digitized photographs of state championship groups, a hardwood flooring and far more, have been unveiled in June of 2021.

“There may be going to be a studying curve as I get into the job, however I wish to proceed to increase the bottom of the Corridor of Fame — and I don’t essentially imply the brick and mortar,” Martin mentioned. “We wish to make sure that the Corridor of Fame represents each a part of the state of Indiana. That’s what the Corridor of Fame needs to be. I plan to get out and see video games in all 92 counties and ensure we’re seen via the complete state and construct on what Chris has performed.”

Martin coached at North White as he completed up his diploma at Purdue earlier than going to show and coach a number of sports activities at Daleville for 3 years. He then taught one 12 months at Perry Meridian and coached the junior varsity basketball crew earlier than happening to Knightstown as athletic director.

Martin mentioned he’s trying ahead to getting across the state and using that high quality he honed at a younger age.

“I’m trying ahead to getting out and speaking to folks,” Martin mentioned. “I feel the Corridor of Fame has been forward of the curve in terms of social media and video tales and the enlargement of the particular constructing. There’s all the time methods to enhance what we’re doing for as we speak’s viewers.”

Name Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.