Seton Hill assistant coach Martin set to join Pitt's coaching staff

Clay Martin spent three years at one of the nation’s premier NCAA Division II baseball programs, learning from widely respected head coach Marc Marizzaldi at Seton Hill.

His time on the “Hill” — that connotation has more than one meaning — has prepared him for the next level.

Martin was announced Friday as a new assistant at Pitt, where he is joining coach Mike Bell’s staff.

Martin, 28, will be the Panthers’ director of pitching development.

“There was one name in the pitching world that kept coming up in our national search. It was an obvious choice and a natural fit,” Bell said in a news release. “I truly feel that he is not just a diamond in the rough, but a rising star in today’s game. We are extremely excited to welcome Clay to the Pitt baseball program.”

Martin and the Griffins made three straight appearances in the NCAA Super Regional and won a PSAC title two years ago. The team won 129 games with him on the bench, with one of his star pupils, Ian Korn, collecting a number of postseason awards, including first-team All-American and national pitcher of the year.

Seton Hill had the best ERA in Division II this season at 2.94.

“I am extremely grateful to be able to be a part of coach Bell’s staff,” Martin said. “Growing up locally and a Pitt fan, it has been a dream to represent the university and the city. I’m excited to get to work with the coaching staff and players soon.”

Martin said he is in debt to Marizzaldi.

“The program’s on-field success, obviously, speaks for itself, but I was fortunate to get a first-hand experience of how to be an elite leader of young men working for Maz,” he said. “He is constantly trying to get the best out of each player and coach in our program. He promotes an environment where it’s completely OK to fail and only unacceptable if you don’t learn from it. So, as a coach, you’re able to continue to try new things and learn what might work and might not work. This obviously prepares you for whatever is next in your journey.”

Martin, a Canon-McMillan and Washington & Jefferson alum, previously served as an assistant at Eastern Illinois for one season. He also was the pitching coach at Westminster for two years.

A former standout pitcher, he has school records at W&J for career saves (13) and saves in a season (12). He won two PAC titles with the Presidents and made the NCAA Division III College World Series twice, finishing as a runner-up in 2017.