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By Mandy Haggerson

For the Clemmons Courier

When your home base is family, soccer and academics, the life lessons learned are unique and valuable.

Katie Martin’s family traveled frequently due to her father’s career as a military officer in the United States Marine Corps. Martin was one of four children and found from her many moves that sports, especially soccer, were the great equalizer when it came to making new friends.

“I had started soccer as soon as I could walk,” Martin said. “I had also played softball with my sister, too. When I got to sixth grade, I had a coach that had recommended playing club soccer. At that time, my parents thought that I needed to commit to one sport if I was going to play with more frequency.”

Choosing which sport to commit to was a no-brainer for Martin. She chose soccer and was a natural at right back as a defender. Because of her speed and footwork, she was often put up top as a striker, too.

“I loved the team aspect of soccer, using my feet, the physicality of it, and competing,” Martin said. “I appreciated the social aspect, too, and it was helpful with making friends.”

Because of her abilities as a high-effort, team-oriented and competitive player, Martin was invited to play her junior year in Germany for two different teams.

“It was one of the best times in my life,” Martin said. “I loved experiencing another culture, especially one that was just as obsessed with soccer as I was. Although I didn’t speak any German, I went to a German school and had tutors, which was interesting. But it was such a great experience.”

After her year in Germany, Martin came back to start her senior year of high school in a new town in West Virginia. Once again, soccer was a helpful way to make friends. She joined a local soccer club that allowed her to get looks with collegiate soccer coaches who were very interested in her. Martin narrowed her selection to the University of South Carolina in Columbia.

“When I got to school, I found myself to be a little fish in a huge ocean,” Martin said. “My dad suggested that I look at changing directions and going to a smaller school. A bunch of girls that I played with in club soccer had chosen the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. I went down and met the coach, Lars Andersson, and he offered me a spot. I transferred that spring semester of my freshman year.”

The switch ended up being the perfect fit. Martin excelled under Coach Andersson. She led the team as a three-year captain of the women’s soccer team, earned all-conference multiple times as a defender, was recognized as the Peach Belt Scholar-Athlete of the Year her senior year for having the highest GPA in the conference, and made lifelong friends.

“I credit my dad for encouraging me to make the move when I didn’t love being in a bigger environment initially,” Martin said. “I think there is a lot of stigma if you don’t go Division I, and it ended up being a better place for me when I got past that mind set.”

With many of her closest friends being her teammates throughout college, she also met her future husband, Tom, through soccer.

“Tom was the goalie for the men’s team at Pembroke,” Martin said. “Because Pembroke was a commuter school, the men’s and women’s soccer teams often hung out together. Tom and I became friends first and then started dating. We got married two weeks after we graduated college, and my college soccer coach attended our wedding.”

Graduating with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in athletic coaching, Martin knew she wanted to start a family with Tom.

“I always knew that I wanted to coach, and I always knew that I wanted to be a mother,” Martin said. “After I graduated, I worked as an assistant coach at Shepherd University and in child protective services. After the fall season, I just worked full-time in child protective services for several years before our first daughter, Delanie, was born in 2012. When Delanie was old enough to kick a ball, Tom and I coached her at the recreation level.”

Around that time, Martin had their second daughter, Sidda, in 2012.

“Sidda was born with special needs,” Martin said. “She amazes us every day. What has been so special about seeing my daughters together is seeing them interact with each other. Being a mom is just awesome. Other than coaching, it’s my purpose. I think it’s just the coolest thing in the world. I am definitely the happiest when my girls get along and we are doing things together.”

As Martin’s daughters got older, she began to wonder if their needs for her as a coach would change too.

“Once Delanie came to me and wanted to play at the club level, Tom and I decided it was time for us to step back and let others coach her,” Martin said. “When her team found themselves without a coach, I asked her if she wanted me to offer to fill in. When she said yes, and the opportunity allowed itself to be a good fit, I was excited to coach and spend more time with her.”

The opportunity to get back into coaching has been the beginning of impacting another generation of soccer players. Martin is now a full-time NC Fusion soccer coach of multiple soccer teams, including USL W U20 Academy Head Coach, USL W Assistant Coach, and Level 2 head coach.

“When I get to coach, the spark is lit for me,” Martin said. “I know the impact of a good coach. I have immersed myself in certifications and trainings to make sure I can be the best I can be for my players. I consider it a privilege to be their coach and be a part of their soccer journey.”