Paul Martin on board with Wildcat soccer

POPLARVILLE Paul Martin has joined ranks with Pearl River Community College women and men soccer programs after the school Board of Trustees approved his hiring at its monthly meeting held July 11. He joins coach Jack Byrd, who enters his fourth year with the programs. Martin will coach the men team and will assist Byrd with the women. Byrd will assist with the men squad. Were fortunate to get a coach of Paul experience and talent, said PRCC athletic director Richard Mathis. He is definitely a plus for our soccer program and we expect great things from him. Martin soccer pedigree is vast as a player and a coach, beginning his playing career in youth leagues in his hometown of Pascagoula. He was a member of the Pascagoula High School 1983 state championship team his senior year. In addition, he was a member of the Singing River Soccer Club state champion Blackhawk squads in 1982 and 1984. Martin was assistant director of radiology at George Regional Hospital in Lucedale for 20 years (1991-2011) prior to accepting the PRCC position, but was always involved in youth and high school soccer programs. He started the first-ever youth team in George County in 1991 and assisting in establishing George County High School first women and men teams in 1993. He coached the GCHS squads from 1993 through 2002, leading his 2001 girls team to the state finals. Martin was named girls Coach of the Year by The Sun Herald newspaper that season. In addition, he was named the Mississippi Soccer Association girls Coach of the Year in 1999 after leading his under-16-years-old girls club team to a state title.always before resigning to pursue the PRCC job. His 2009 under-14-years-old boys club team reached the quarter finals in regional competition. Martin has been involved in the Mississippi Olympic Development Program for eight years and currently serves as a scout for the southern portion of the state. He played competitive soccer for 20 years in the United States and Mexico after his high school career. Martin has been married to his wife, Irma, for 23 years. They are the parents of two sons and a daughter Kenneth, age 23, and Jacob, age 17; and Sophia, age 19.