Harry Martin - Patterson Boys Basketball

Harry Martin, who has led Patterson High School to three MPSSAA regional titles in the past four years, is the County Sports Zone/Buffalo Wild Wings Coach of the Month for January.

Coach Martin has coached at Patterson High School for 17 years. He became the head coach of the boys varsity team nine years ago and had led the Clippers to a 139-55 record heading into this season. Coach Martin also coached Patterson to its first boys basketball MPSSAA state final victory in 2012.

Last winter, the Clippers earned the No. 1 overall seed in their section. Double-digit wins over Dunbar and Western Tech won them their section, and paired them with Randallstown High School from Baltimore County in the regional final. Patterson went on to win the regional final, on the road, over Randallstown by a final score of 73-63. Patterson then lost in the state semifinal to eventual champion Potomac of Prince George's County. Their final record was 21-5.

Coach Martin grew up in East Baltimore and attended Baltimore City College, where he excelled both on the basketball court and on the baseball diamond. He attended Coppin State University, where he was a member of the baseball team. He started teaching and coaching at Patterson High School right after he graduated from Coppin State in 1998, and has been there for the past 17 years. Coach Martin has also been the head of Patterson's mathematics department for the past nine years.

When asked what his favorite part about coaching at Patterson is, Coach Martin replied, "the best part is being able to mold kids in a different way than I would be able to in the classroom."

It's a sentiment Coach Martin takes seriously: He has his team make appearances at local elementary schools throughout the season. During these appearances, the team gets the opportunity to mentor young students.

"We want our guys to become good husbands, good fathers, graduate from college and give back to the community. Serving as mentors to elementary school children was one way we thought we could instill those values in them," he explained.

For being named County Sports Zone/Buffalo Wild Wings Coach of the Month, Coach Martin received a gift certificate, a box of sauces and a hat from Buffalo Wild Wings, as well as a County Sports Zone Under Armour t-shirt.

If you'd like to make a nomination for next month's County Sports Zone/Buffalo Wild Wings Coach of The Month, click here.

Congratulations to Coach Martin!