Belly to Belly with Coach Joey Martinez | Menlo Wrestling’s DII Rise & NCAA Transition
In Episode 388 of Airey Bros Radio, we go belly to belly with Coach Joey Martinez, Head Men’s Wrestling Coach & Director of Wrestling at Menlo College.Coach Martinez has led the Oaks for 16 seasons and just guided the program through a historic year — their first as an NCAA Division II program, capturing the inaugural MPSF Championship, winning the program’s first NCAA national title, producing 3 individual NCAA champions, 10 All-Americans, and going undefeated at home.In this deep dive, we cover:
📲 Follow Menlo Wrestling on Instagram: @menlowrestling
🎧 Now available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.
🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe, hit the bell, and join the conversation in the live chat. Let’s go!🌟 Follow & Support Airey Bros Radio! 🌟
👉 Subscribe on YouTube: @aireybros 🎥🔥
👉 Follow us on Instagram: @aireybrosradio 📸💬
👉 Explore Rich’s Ultra Marathon Coaching: Black Sheep Endurance 🏃♂️
💪☕ Feeling Generous? Support the show and keep us caffeinated: Buy Me a Coffee 💖☕
Show Notes
0:00 – Intro: Airey Bros set the stage, spotlighting Menlo Wrestling & California wrestling tradition
1:31 – Coach Joey Martinez bio: 16 seasons at Menlo, Hall of Famer, NAIA All-American
3:26 – Origin story: Wrestling since age 9, UC Davis, Skyline College, Menlo journey
8:00 – Recruiting philosophy: Finding the right fit, parents’ role, business-focused academics
14:27 – Coaching parents & building family relationships in recruiting
17:15 – Transition from NAIA → NCAA Division II: challenges, postseason eligibility, MPSF title
20:54 – Retention & loyalty: Why Menlo athletes stayed during the transition
21:57 – Recruiting reach: California pipeline, Western states, national connections
23:25 – Character over technique: Evaluating athletes’ maturity, attitude, and resilience
28:35 – Coaching today’s athletes: maturity vs habits, instilling discipline & consistency
28:47 – Social media: policies, positives, and challenges in the wrestling room
31:03 – Dual meets & Menlo’s undefeated home crowd: spotlight matches & rivalries
33:27 – Rivalries: locking horns with SF State, Humboldt, and local California DII powers
34:41 – Alumni network, internships, business school focus, and career opportunities post-wrestling
37:22 – Bay Area location: Atherton campus, diverse student body, Menlo’s tight-knit community
40:55 – Preseason prep: weight room, conditioning, October start to official practices
42:02 – New class: 10 freshmen, 2 JUCO transfers, depth across weight classes
44:40 – Returning lineup: 1 NCAA champ, 6 All-Americans back, 5 redshirts ready
46:39 – Program goals during transition: winning, academics, & culture building
50:03 – NAIA vs NCAA competition: depth, quality, and recruiting differences
53:10 – Transition decision-making: President & AD leading the NCAA DII move
56:00 – NCWA Championship: surprises, quality competition, Puerto Rico team, Louisiana experience
58:46 – Crawfish & culture: Coach’s Louisiana takeaway
59:21 – Final message: Menlo is a “diamond in the rough” for recruits and families
1:01:18 – Closing gratitude & Menlo banner shoutout from Airey Bros
1:03:32 – Coffee talk: French press, dark roast, Bay Area coffee shops
1:04:38 – Daily rituals: early mornings, gratitude, and quiet time
1:06:42 – Chill music, reading habits, Apple TV “STIC” with Marc Maron
1:08:10 – Family life: kids in track & flag football, not wrestling
1:09:07 – Guilty pleasures: movies, food, cream puffs & coffee pairings
1:10:09 – Summer movie picks: F1 the Movie, Superman, Bad Guys 2, Freaky Tales
1:15:42 – Wrap-up: gratitude, next guests
- Coach Martinez’s origin story from athlete to coach and 16 years leading Menlo Wrestling
- Transitioning from NAIA to NCAA Division II and the challenges of the two-year postseason ineligibility
- Recruiting philosophy: California roots, national reach, and finding the right student-athlete fit
- Building culture, character, and maturity in today’s athletes
- The role of parents in recruiting and student-athlete development
- Menlo’s tight-knit community, business school focus, and Bay Area opportunities for athletes
- Alumni support, internships, and life beyond the mat
- The importance of dual meet atmospheres, rivalries with SF State & Humboldt, and undefeated home crowds
📲 Follow Menlo Wrestling on Instagram: @menlowrestling
🎧 Now available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.
🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe, hit the bell, and join the conversation in the live chat. Let’s go!🌟 Follow & Support Airey Bros Radio! 🌟
👉 Subscribe on YouTube: @aireybros 🎥🔥
👉 Follow us on Instagram: @aireybrosradio 📸💬
👉 Explore Rich’s Ultra Marathon Coaching: Black Sheep Endurance 🏃♂️
💪☕ Feeling Generous? Support the show and keep us caffeinated: Buy Me a Coffee 💖☕
Show Notes
0:00 – Intro: Airey Bros set the stage, spotlighting Menlo Wrestling & California wrestling tradition
1:31 – Coach Joey Martinez bio: 16 seasons at Menlo, Hall of Famer, NAIA All-American
3:26 – Origin story: Wrestling since age 9, UC Davis, Skyline College, Menlo journey
8:00 – Recruiting philosophy: Finding the right fit, parents’ role, business-focused academics
14:27 – Coaching parents & building family relationships in recruiting
17:15 – Transition from NAIA → NCAA Division II: challenges, postseason eligibility, MPSF title
20:54 – Retention & loyalty: Why Menlo athletes stayed during the transition
21:57 – Recruiting reach: California pipeline, Western states, national connections
23:25 – Character over technique: Evaluating athletes’ maturity, attitude, and resilience
28:35 – Coaching today’s athletes: maturity vs habits, instilling discipline & consistency
28:47 – Social media: policies, positives, and challenges in the wrestling room
31:03 – Dual meets & Menlo’s undefeated home crowd: spotlight matches & rivalries
33:27 – Rivalries: locking horns with SF State, Humboldt, and local California DII powers
34:41 – Alumni network, internships, business school focus, and career opportunities post-wrestling
37:22 – Bay Area location: Atherton campus, diverse student body, Menlo’s tight-knit community
40:55 – Preseason prep: weight room, conditioning, October start to official practices
42:02 – New class: 10 freshmen, 2 JUCO transfers, depth across weight classes
44:40 – Returning lineup: 1 NCAA champ, 6 All-Americans back, 5 redshirts ready
46:39 – Program goals during transition: winning, academics, & culture building
50:03 – NAIA vs NCAA competition: depth, quality, and recruiting differences
53:10 – Transition decision-making: President & AD leading the NCAA DII move
56:00 – NCWA Championship: surprises, quality competition, Puerto Rico team, Louisiana experience
58:46 – Crawfish & culture: Coach’s Louisiana takeaway
59:21 – Final message: Menlo is a “diamond in the rough” for recruits and families
1:01:18 – Closing gratitude & Menlo banner shoutout from Airey Bros
1:03:32 – Coffee talk: French press, dark roast, Bay Area coffee shops
1:04:38 – Daily rituals: early mornings, gratitude, and quiet time
1:06:42 – Chill music, reading habits, Apple TV “STIC” with Marc Maron
1:08:10 – Family life: kids in track & flag football, not wrestling
1:09:07 – Guilty pleasures: movies, food, cream puffs & coffee pairings
1:10:09 – Summer movie picks: F1 the Movie, Superman, Bad Guys 2, Freaky Tales
1:15:42 – Wrap-up: gratitude, next guests
Activity