Posted: May 18, 2010

Eureka College Names Taren Martin As Women's Basketball Coach

EUREKA, Ill. – Taren Martin, formerly the director of women’s basketball operations at Illinois State University, has been named the new Eureka College women’s basketball head coach, Director of Athletics Paul Bryant announced during a news conference at the Reagan Center on Tuesday. Martin will be the ninth head coach in program history and just the fourth women’s basketball head coach at Eureka since 1982.

A native of Savannah, Mo., Martin comes to Eureka after spending the last 10 seasons as a player and member of the coaching staff at Illinois State. She began her four-year playing career for the Redbirds in 2000, eventually helping ISU to one of its largest turnarounds in program history. As a senior during the 2003-04 season, Martin averaged 11.4 points, 4.6 assists and 2.6 steals per game in leading the Redbirds to a fifth place finish in the Missouri Valley Conference and a 16-13 record, a nine-win improvement from the previous season and team’s best record since 1996-97.

Martin received Illinois State’s Jill Hutchison Endowed Scholarship in 2003 and the Jill Hutchison Coach’s Award for leadership and performance for her efforts during her senior season. Martin was the first Illinois State player to record 300 assists, 250 made free throws, 150 steals and 100 three-point field goals.

Illinois State’s first director of women’s basketball operations, Martin began her coaching career in 2004 while pursuing her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communication. In addition to her coaching duties, Martin oversaw the day-to-day operations of the program and did tireless work behind the scenes. She also developed communication plans, organized day-to-day activities, public relations and marketing. The Redbirds made four trips to the postseason during Martin’s tenure at Illinois State, including back-to-back WNIT semifinal appearances in 2009 and 2010.

“We’re very excited to welcome Coach Martin to Eureka College to lead our women’s basketball program,” Bryant said. “We are privileged to have chosen someone with Taren’s experience. She will bring a new level of professionalism and vigor to the Red Devils.”

Formerly Taren O’Brien, she married Patrick Martin in 2005. They have a two-year-old daughter, Ryleigh, and a one-year-old son, Jackson.

Martin replaces Abby Hearn, who resigned after three seasons last March with a record of 18-57.