Taft names Lyle Martin, Jr. new women’s soccer head coach

Taft, CA – Athletic Director Kanoe Bandy is proud to announce that Lyle Martin, Jr. has been named Taft College Women's Soccer Head Coach.

Martin is a former Professional Soccer Player who has played for several teams, including Chivas USA, Vancouver Whitecaps, Xi'an Chanba, Wuhan Huanghelou, and Beijing Baxy, becoming the first American to play in China. While playing professionally, Martin found his true passion—coaching the game. He has run multiple camps and clinics throughout his playing career and continues to do so today. These camps have fueled his desire to coach full time.

"I'm excited to take on the position of Women's Soccer Head Coach at Taft College," Martin said. "I look forward to further augmenting my coaching abilities while helping my players to reach their full potential."

After retiring from professional soccer, Martin returned to coach at his alma mater, Stockdale High School. He led his team to back-to-back conference championships. Despite the on-field success, Martin is most proud of his players who go on to college for either academics or athletics rather than the trophies won at season's end.

Throughout his career, he has been recognized for his leadership and coaching abilities. Following the 2021-22 season, he was named South Yosemite League (SYL) Coach of the Year. He has also been recognized as a top Coach by various soccer organizations in the Bakersfield area.

Coach Martin is known for his commitment to developing players and helping them to fully reach their potential on and off the field. He has a reputation for being a skilled and passionate Coach who cares deeply about his student-athletes and their success. In addition to his coaching duties, Martin is also involved in running Community Outreach Programs that use Soccer to promote education and healthy living.

"I believe that Soccer is a powerful tool for promoting teamwork, discipline, and personal growth," Martin said. "I'm committed to using my coaching platform to make a positive impact on my players and the broader community."

This past season (2022), the Taft College Women's Soccer Team compiled a 14-5-3 overall record while advancing to the second round of the Northern California Regional Playoffs. Taft College went 9-2-3 in Central Valley Conference play to finish in third place under former Women's Soccer Head Coach Angelo Cutrona.