Valerie Martin, the head coach of West Essex Girls Tennis team, has been awarded the Super Essex Conference Coach of the Year title in only her second season with the program. Martin has been involved in high school tennis for many years, coaching the boys and girls teams at Nutley starting in 2008 and continuing for 16 years. She then coached the boys junior varsity tennis players at West Essex for three years. Martin took over both West Essex tennis programs in 2024, after her son, Jeff Martin, took an administrative position within the district.
In Martin’s first season, the girls team ended with a record of 7-10, finishing second in the Liberty division. This season, the team improved to 10-8, securing first place in their division by beating West Orange, Glen Ridge, Mount Saint Dominic, Verona and Caldwell. The team advanced to the county quarterfinals, defeating West Orange in the first round, and then proceeded to the state quarterfinals, where they beat Westwood in the first round.
“Winning the Liberty division was an exhilarating feeling,” Martin said. “It was so rewarding to see this solid, talented team fight so hard, not only to win but to sweep 5-0.”
Martin began the season with only three returning varsity players, after losing lost eight seniors from the previous season. Drawing on her extensive experience, she built a diverse roster featuring players from every grade. Martin uses a challenge ladder technique, allowing the girls to participate in challenge matches during the pre-season. This method determined their rankings based on winning percentages and performance levels, rather than reputation.
Martin continued to lead the team through the season, achieving a significant victory against Columbia high school. In the 2024 season, West Essex had previously fallen to Columbia in a close 3-2 match. However, after Columbia moved up a division, West Essex faced them again and won 3-2, marking a triumph for Coach Martin.
“After losing to Columbia to take the Liberty title in 2024, we bounced back as a team to win this year, being our most solid win,” Martin said.
Coach Martin has shown leadership, guiding her team to a successful season. Her inspiring approach and strategic insights make her deserving of the Coach of the Year award, recognizing the positive impact she has had on her players.
“I was named Coach of the Year back in 2008,” Martin said. “However, 17 years later, to receive it again, especially with this team that fought so hard to achieve such success, was extremely rewarding. I definitely share this award with each of my players who worked so hard as players on and off the court.”
