Jan. 5, 2010

Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State Director of Athletics Tim Selgo announced today that head football coach Chuck Martin has resigned to accept a position on Brian Kelly's staff at Notre Dame as the defensive backs coach. Grand Valley State will begin a search immediately for the seventh head coach in the program's history. Grand Valley State is the winningest NCAA DII football program in the country in terms of winning percentage (.725) and won more games in the decade of the 2000's (122) than any team in DI, the FCS and DII.

"We would like to thank Chuck and his family for all of their contributions to Grand Valley State and our football program," said Selgo. "Chuck did an outstanding job in his six years as head coach, leading us to two National Championships, five GLIAC titles, and six NCAA DII playoff appearances."

Martin's .914 winning percentage (74-7) ranks second among all active head coaches (Larry Kehres of Mount Union owned a .925 percentage with a 289-22-3 record) regardless of division. GVSU was 10-3 under Martin in his first year, followed by back-to-back undefeated National Championship campaigns in 2005 and 2006. Martin guided the Lakers to a 40-game winning streak, the longest in NCAA DII history, and three title game appearances in his six years.

"Notre Dame is getting two outstanding former Grand Valley State head football coaches in Brian Kelly and Chuck Martin," added Selgo. "We have the winningest DII football program in the country and it is by no accident that Brian and Chuck were a combined 192-42-2 (.818) in 19 years with four National Championships, 10 GLIAC Championships, and 12 playoff appearances."

Grand Valley State will return 41 letterwinners for the 2010 season, including nine players who have started on offense and nine who have started on the defensive side of the ball.

"Our entire coaching staff did a tremendous job this past year," said Selgo. "We have an outstanding cohesive staff in place at Grand Valley State that has a great deal of experience on both sides of the ball. I am really excited about the future of Grand Valley State football."