Martin to Replace Milke as Coach of CSUN Women’s Basketball Team

Janet Martin, an interim coach at Colorado State last season, has been hired as women’s basketball coach at Cal State Northridge.

Martin, 29, replaces Leslie Milke, who resigned in June after compiling a 100-94 record at Northridge from 1983-90. Northridge will make its NCAA Division I debut in less than four months.

“I’m very, very excited,” Martin said by telephone from her home in Fort Collins, Colo., after her appointment was announced Friday. “I wanted to get back to the West Coast, and this is a great opportunity. I really missed California, and, except for paying the rent, I’m looking forward to going back.”

Martin, an assistant coach at Southwestern Louisiana in 1986-87 and at San Diego State from 1987-89, was hired as an assistant at Colorado State last year, then took over the program when Brian Berger resigned in January.

After Colorado State (14-16 overall) finished fourth in the six-team High Country Athletic Conference, Martin became a finalist for the Rams’ permanent head coaching job. Houston Coach Greg Williams eventually was chosen to guide the team, which will compete in the Western Athletic Conference next season.

“That was a big disappointment but things have turned out great,” said Martin, who played center for Oregon State from 1980-84 and still ranks among the school’s top 10 career leaders in scoring (1,145 points), rebounding (446) and field-goal percentage (.567).

After completing her collegiate eligibility, Martin played two seasons of professional basketball in Europe.

“Colorado is a beautiful place, but I had a hard time recruiting kids from Texas and California to go there,” Martin said. “They weren’t too thrilled with the snow. Because of Northridge’s location and my contacts in California, I think I’ll have an easier time recruiting there.”

Martin inherits a team that was 11-18 overall and finished in a tie for second place in the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. at 7-5.

Northridge will make its Division I debut in the Cal State Fullerton tournament Nov. 23 after 16 seasons at the Division II level.

“I’ve always been at the Division I level, so it’s not that big a deal to me,” Martin said. “I’ve seen films of last year’s team, and I like the recruits Northridge got this year. I think we’ll do all right.”

Martin said that Eliseo Nino will remain as CSUN’s assistant coach.