July 12, 2000

TALLAHASSEE, FL. -- Florida State head baseball coach Mike Martin has been named the 2000 Atlantic Region Coach of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches Association. Martin guided the 1999 Seminoles to the College World Series for the eighth time in the last 10 years and a final record of 53-19. FSU advanced to college baseball's final four in Omaha, falling to eventual national champion LSU in the semifinal.

"This was one of my most enjoyable years of coaching baseball and that was because we had a very special group of young men," said Martin. "This is a tribute to the hard work that the players put in and also to the outstanding job our assistant coaches (Chip Baker, Jamey Shouppe and Mike Martin, Jr.) here have done. Hopefully, we can get back to Omaha and make another run at it next year."

Martin was also named the Atlantic Region Coach of the Year in 1986 and 1987. He is a three-time ACC Coach of the Year (1996, 1998 and 1999) and has led the Seminoles to 19 50-win seasons. Martin, who just completed his 21st season at FSU, currently ranks second among NCAA Division I coaches with a career winning percentage of .747.