BREAKING SPORTS: Martin files retirement papers for 2013-2014
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The Du Quoin Community Unit District #300 Board of Education Thursday night is expected to formally accept the planned 2013-2014 retirement of legendary football coach and respected special educator Al Martin.
Martin returned to District #300 after a short stint at Carbonfale HIgh School in the fall of 1988,
In August, he'll begin his 23rd season as football coach where he's amassed a glittering 224-45 record. Du Quoin has made the post season every season under Martin's watch, winning Class 3A State Championships in 1988 and 1992 while earning the runner-up trophy four times (1994, 1995, 2002 and 2008). Six other times, he's guided Du Quoin to the state semifinals. Since 1988, Du Quoin has won 51 of 71 playoff games.
Now 58 years old, Martin retired last winter after a dozen mega-successful springs as Du Quoin's boys track coach. Mentoring a trio of state individual champions, he guided the Indians to a second place finish in the 2007 team state.
During his stints at DHS, Martin also put together winning seasons as head baseball coach (1981-1982), while serving as an underclass assistant basketball coach with both the girls and boys teams.
He continues to oversee weightlifting and conditioning programs.
Martin was named to the Illinois High School Football Coaches Assocation (IHSFCA) Hall-of-Fame in 2007 and served previousl y as senior member of the Illinois High School Association(IHSA) football advisory committee.
A member of Du Quoin High School's Class of 1972, Martin graduated from Murray State where he played defensive back on th football team.
He's also coached and taught at Carbondale and Christopher.