Colleges

FSU names tops in coaching field

By BRIAN LANDMAN
Published March 31, 2005

Baseball coach Mike Martin and softball coach JoAnne Graf's names are synonymous with Florida State and success. As of Saturday, their fields of dreams formally and permanently will bear that out.

Welcome to Mike Martin Field at Dick Howser Stadium.

Welcome to JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex.

"It's the most unbelievable honor that has ever been given to me," Martin said of the dedication.

"It's really a credit to all the past players and coaches and the fans, really everybody who's been supportive of our program," Graf said. "I'm very grateful and humbled to everyone who's been a part of my career here."

All modesty aside, Martin and Graf are every bit as deserving of the recognition as football coach Bobby Bowden was when the school named the field at Doak Campbell Stadium for him in November.

Martin, 61, graduated from FSU in 1966, served as a Seminole assistant under Woody Woodward (1975-1978) and then under Howser (1979) before taking over the program in 1980. In this, his 26th season, he had a 1,365-457-4 record (not counting Wednesday's game against Florida), the sixth highest all-time wins total in Division I history. He has led the Seminoles to 25 straight NCAA Region appearances and 12 trips to the College World Series.

"It will be a very emotional time for me because anybody who knows me knows how much I love this university and how much I appreciate the opportunity that this university has provided me," he said of the ceremony. "This is home. This is where I want to be the rest of my life."

He expects to flash back to the first time he walked on the campus as a junior-college transfer in 1965, two days after he married Carol Dellinger. He will remember his first practice, his last game, his first game as the coach (a 10-0 loss at Miami on Feb. 22, 1980) his first win (9-8 at Miami on Feb. 24) and the countless players, walk-ons and the stars alike.

Graf, 51, has had a strikingly similar run. A 1975 FSU graduate, she began working in the athletic department as the coach for the men's and women's swim teams and an assistant softball coach and is now in her 27th season as the coach.

During that time, she is 1,297-383-6, becoming just the third Division I coach to surpass 1,000 wins. Her teams won back-to-back slowpitch national titles (1981-82) and, in 21 seasons playing fastpitch, the Seminoles have never had a losing season and advanced to the NCAA Tournament 17 times.

"The people are the ones who get it done," she said of her players and support staff. "One person can't do everything. You've got to have a lot of people working toward the same goal and we've been real fortunate having that."

The softball ceremony will precede a 1 p.m. showdown against Virginia Tech, while the baseball dedication will take place before a 7 p.m. game against ACC power Clemson, so fans of FSU can take part in a most unusual doubleheader. Former players from both programs are expected to attend.

"That's really nice," Graf said. "We've been here about the same time."

Speaking of time, don't look for either to be leaving any time soon, either. Although retirement talk seems to come with such dedications - just ask Bowden about that one - Martin and Graf both said they haven't lost the passion to teach and compete.

ODDS AND ENDS: Junior Andrew Lemoncello qualified for the NCAA outdoor track and field championship in the 10K by running a 28:44.97 at last weekend's Stanford Invitational. ... The volleyball team continues its spring training with scrimmages Friday against North Florida, Florida A&M, Jacksonville State and Texas A&M in Tully Gym. There is no charge for admission.

Brian Landman covers Florida State athletics. Reach him at 813 226-3347 or at landman@sptimes.com

[Last modified March 31, 2005, 01:28:16]