Former East St. Louis Lincoln star Cuonzo Martin has never forgotten his roots in the 618.
Another one of former East St. Louis Lincoln and Flyers coach Bennie “Boss” Lewis’ boys proved coaches from East St. Louis can get it done.
Martin’s Tennessee Volunteers moved into the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Up next is a date with the Cadillac program from the BIG 10, the Michigan Wolverines on Friday night in Indianapolis.
Martin’s team has won nine of their last 11 games, including impressive wins over Mizzou, Iowa and early Cinderella darling Mercer, 83-63, on Sunday to advance to the Sweet 16.
Coach Martin who had guided Missouri State to the Missouri Valley Conference Championship in 2011 before heading to Knoxville.
At the 2011 Final Four in Houston, Martin received the Ben Kind National Coach of the Year Award, presented annually to the top minority head coach in Division l men’s basketball.
In addition, he also was a finalist for the Hugh Durham “Mid-Major” Coach of the Year Award, and the USA Basketball Jr. National Team selected Martin to join Matt Painter (Purdue) and Brad Stevens ( Butler, Boston Celtics) on the United States men’s coaching staff at the 2011 FISH World University Games in Shenzhen, China.
The East St. Louis native seems to have silenced all of critics in the Volunteer State with his late-season success.
“It has been a blessing for me and my family since I walked through the doors on March 28, 2011 and accepted this job at Tennessee,” Martin said via telephone, after Sunday’s victory over Mercer University. The work doesn’t stop here. Our goal is to be in Arlington, TX. (site of this year’s Final Four) next week.”
Coach Martin relies heavenly on his faith, and his hometown of East St. Louis for inspiration while coaching in Knoxville.
“I have plenty of love and support from both family, friends, former coaches of mine back home,” he said.
“I often invite coach Bennie Lewis to our games, and call him sometimes just to talk and to get advice. I will always love and respect those who have supported me throughout the years as a player, and now a coach.”
One thing for sure. The buzz around East St. Louis regarding Cuonzo is electric. People all over town, where most of the talk is negative regarding boys and men’s basketball in East St. Louis these days, are speaking with the highest respect for the former East St. Louis star. We live in a community that loves and supports their hometown teams and coaches when they display integrity, and leadership.
Having beaten cancer, Martin has used that courage and inspiration to promote awareness of cancer supporting numerous cancer charities. In 2008 while at Purdue, Martin served as spokesman for Cancer Research Challenge raising over $30,000 for cancer research.
Coach Martin has also been instrumental is mentoring young men in basketball and, more importantly, in the game of life.
In East St. Louis, and black communities across the country, administrators, and community leaders alike cannot tolerate people and coaches who do not have the best interest of black student-athletes. Cuonzo has proven that you can find great people and coaches from East St. Louis who genuinely care about young people, and has proved it with the national spotlight shining on him.
No matter what happens tomorrow night, we are proud of our hero Cuonzo Martin. He is proving on a national stage that you don’t have to act like a jerk to lead young men and can be a positive coach while coaching them.
