This was a piece I wrote while on staff at UConn’s student paper, The Daily Campus. USF was in town for a three game series where Tino Martinez served as an assistant coach. It was published on April 2, 2007.

Tino Martinez’s eyes stare out at J.O. Christian Field from behind the protective reflection of his sunglasses. These are the eyes of a veteran; of a man who has seen all this game has to offer. Those eyes have recognized a major league curveball. They have seen 50,000 fans scream in jubilation at Yankee Stadium. They have squinted at the lights and cameras of ESPN’s ‘Baseball Tonight’ set. But now, those eyes are watching a team, their team, take on UConn.

Ten years after launching 44 bombs, driving in 141 runs, and finishing second in MVP voting for the New York Yankees, Martinez’s eyes now gaze upon a new project. Martinez is a volunteer assistant baseball coach for the University of South Florida. While the dugout is a place he has been before, it seems to look different when he takes his seat as a coach and not a player.

As those eyes of an experienced winner witnessed their Bulls throw up 16 runs on 20 hits against UConn during Friday’s game, all the other eyes in attendance must wonder if this was some of Martinez’s doing. After all, having an assistant coach on the roster, who has banished 339 balls from major league parks in his career, can’t hurt USF’s bats.

“If you don’t listen to a guy who’s had 16 years of major league experience then you’re not going to be a part of this program,” said USF head coach Lelo Prado. “He’s done a great job with the hitting this year.”

Martinez’s position in the dugout is a far cry from his former one at first base in multiple World Series contests. The fans scattered randomly throughout the stands this weekend can hardly compare to performing in a major league stadium with a ticket purchased for every seat, but Martinez remains enthusiastic about this type of baseball.

“The college atmosphere is more intense and a lot more exciting,” Martinez said. “We play fewer games so every one matters more.”

Martinez also provides invaluable assistance to the lineup of the Bulls. Baseball is a game of streaks; the worst get hot sometimes and the best go on 0-for-15 slumps. Martinez has experienced his own times when the ball just can’t seem to find a gap and every fielder is suddenly equipped with the skill set of Derek Jeter.

“If the guys are ever in the same type of slump I was in I try to help them get out of it,” Martinez said. “I don’t say I’m perfect, but I tell them what I did to help them not make the same mistakes. I’ve done the same things before that they do.”

Any university would be hard-pressed to find an assistant coach with this much skill and experience to help develop its players into better hitters. It would be nearly impossible to find an assistant coach who develops the players into better people. Luckily for the Bulls, Martinez sets both goals squarely on the table.

We’ve all seen Terrell Owens make a mockery of how he was raised as soon as the lens of a camera is pointed at his face. We’ve seen enough Cincinnati Bengals arrested to fill up a full season of Court TV. Many athletes today are far from standout citizens. Martinez tries to make sure he won’t see any of his players on Sports Center for the entirely wrong reasons some day.

“I just try to help these guys out,” Martinez said. “I want to make them better players right now and better people when they leave here.”

Martinez does not carry himself like a World Series champion. There is no overly flamboyant ring on his finger. He spoke as if he had achieved the same amount of accomplishment in his life as any man. He does an exquisite job of emitting the ‘just another guy’ persona.

But he is not just another guy; or just another coach. His talents could be utilized on other schools at higher positions. Yet, head coaching does not seem to be anywhere in his imminent future.

“I don’t know, I’m having a lot of fun coaching right now,” Martinez said. “I love college baseball, but as far as head coaching, maybe when my kids get older.”

Who could blame him for having fun? This is baseball in its purest state. These are guys playing for the love of the game. The guy adjacent to him on the bench isn’t publicly complaining about his thirty million dollar contract. There are no TV stations to criticize his play if he goes 1-for-5 on a given night. There is no George Steinbrenner to threaten to trade him every year. With all that removed, this is still baseball, and he is still Tino Martinez.

When asked about how USF will perform this year, it becomes obvious he hasn’t been only giving lessons, but receiving some from Prado as well.

“We’re starting to get confidence and these guys work hard,” Martinez said. “We’re playing together and the ultimate goal is to win it all.”

What a typical coach.