Ricky Martinez - Baseball Coach - University of Tennessee Athletics

KNOXVILLE, TN - April 29, 2023 - Infielder Blake Burke #25 and Student Assistant Coach Ricky Martinez of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Tennessee Volunteers at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Ian Cox/Tennessee Athletics

Photo by: Ian Cox/Tennessee Athletics

Ricky Martinez

Title:
Student Assistant Coach

After starting his coaching career as the Volunteers’ student assistant during the 2022 and 2023 seasons, Ricky Martinez returned to Knoxville to serve as the program's Director of Player Development in the summer of 2024 following one season as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at New Mexico State.

While at NM State, Martinez worked primarily with the team’s infielders and helped the Aggies to an 11-win increase from the year prior during his lone season in Las Cruces. Freshman infielder Steve Solorzano earned Conference USA All-Freshman Team honors under Martinez’s tutelage.

During his two seasons as a student assistant at UT, Martinez worked closely with the infielders while also returning to school to finish his degree. During that time, the program posted 101 wins, including a program-record 57 victories in 2022, and made their second trip to Omaha in three seasons in 2023. Martinez coached four infielders who were drafted in those two years, including Trey Lipscomb, who made his MLB debut in 2024 for the Washington Nationals.

Martinez spent one season as UT's starting shortstop in 2019, helping lead the Vols to their first NCAA Regional appearance since 2005. The Texas native hit .279 with 62 hits, 28 RBIs and a team-leading 18 doubles on the year and was one of the top defensive shortstops in the SEC.

Martinez was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 18th round of the 2019 Major League Baseball Draft and spent two seasons playing Minor League baseball with the Hillsboro Hops before deciding to end his playing career after the 2021 season.