WELLAND, Ont. - The Niagara College Department of Intercollegiate Athletics are very pleased to welcome Joey Martins as their new head coach of the Niagara College Knights Women’s Volleyball team.

Joey Martins, comes to Niagara after a very successful playing career in the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association, Ontario Provincial team, a member of the Canadian National senior team and a year of playing professional volleyball in Portugal.

Martins, a Burlington, Ontario native replaces Stewart Arevalo, whose contract was not renewed. Under Arevalo, the Knights failed to make playoffs with a regular season record of 10-12, 7th place in the OCAA West Region.

"We now have a person whom we think can lead our women’s program back to contention in the OCAA and to the CCAA Championships,” said Ray Sarkis, Coordinator of Athletics and Recreation at Niagara College. "We are thrilled to have Joey lead our program, as he brings an abundance of knowledge and skill to the position after competing at the highest levels in the sport of volleyball,” he added.

"I am really looking forward to the future of Niagara College Volleyball Programs, and rebuilding it to what it once was, a volleyball power house within the OCAA and CCAA,” stated Martins, who was inducted into the Loyalist College Lancers Hall of Fame on March 30, 2011.

Martins is a graduate of the Bronte Beach volleyball Club, where he led his teams to a number of national championship medals.

While attending Loyalist College in Belleville, Ontario, he led the Lancers to two OCAA Championships, and a CCAA Bronze medal. After graduating from Loyalist, Martins moved on to the perennial Red Deer College Kings in Red Deer, Alberta.

With the Kings, he continued his domination as an outside hitter and helped lead Red Deer to their 7th and 8th consecutive CCAA National Championships. His individual accolades at the post secondary level were many. The list includes: Two-time Loyalist College and Red Deer College Athlete of the Year, OCAA Scoring Champion, OCAA Athlete of the Year and twice named the Alberta Athletic Conference Athlete of the Year. He was the recipient of the CCAA All-Canadian Award for four consecutive years and twice CCAA Men’s Volleyball Player of the Year.

In his final two years with Red Deer, he won back-to-back CCAA Male Athlete of the Year honours (Across all Sports), becoming the first student-athlete to ever accomplish this feat.
In 2005, he was named the CCAA Men’s Volleyball National Championships Most Valuable Player and 1st Team All-Star. That same year, Martins was selected to Team Canada FISU Team and when they traveled to compete at the World University Games in Turkey. He was also a member of the Senior "A” Team as a back-up Libero.

In 2007, he played professionally in Portugal in Division 1. He ended the season as the fifth best passer in the league. Upon his return home, he began giving back to the sport that gave him so much by coaching at the grass roots with the Burlington Blaze Volleyball Club, a nationally ranked 16 and under girls team.

Keith Hansen, Red Deer College Kings Head Coach (and current RDC, Director of Athletics):
"Joey was one of the best players ever to play in the CCAA and I feel lucky to have coached him. He had a great mind for the game and always carried himself with poise and confidence. There is no doubt that he will be an asset to the OCAA and specifically Niagara College. They have made a great hire and I have no doubt Joey will be extremely successful in this position”.

Andrew Nicholson, President of Burlington Blaze Volleyball Club:
"I was recently informed that Burlington Blaze 16U Head Coach Joey Martins was named as the new Head Coach of the Niagara College Knights Women’s Volleyball team. What a fantastic hire on the part of Ray Sarkis and the Niagara College Knights Volleyball program! I can't say enough about Joey Martins, not only is he a fine volleyball coach, but more so, a quality person!”

Chris Carson, Former Head Coach of Loyalist College Lancers Men’s Volleyball team:
"I know based upon his attributes (i.e. his calmness, great sense of humour, ability to communicate in a firm, yet positive manner), as well as his knowledge and skill for the game, that Joey will be a great coach. He is joining a College with a deep history in volleyball, and I wish him the best of luck in continuing that tradition.”

Source: Niagara College