Head coach Amable Martinez begins his fifth season in 2016 at the helm of the BC Bears Volleyball team, and looks to build upon the program's best finish (24-6) last year since joining the NCAA Div II. Martinez and the Bears posted a regular season championship with a 15-4 mark en route to a CACC Tournament finals appearance in his second-straight post-season visit.
A decorated coach at both the club and high school levels, Martinez has guided the women's volleyball program at Science Park High School in Newark, N.J. for the past seven seasons, raising the program to unprecedented heights during his tenure. A winner of three-straight Essex County Girls Volleyball Coach of the Year awards from 2007-2009 and a two-time Colonial Hills Conference Coach of the Year, Martinez led Science Park to back-to-back CHC championships in 2007 and 2008, and to the first Essex County Tournament Final in school history in 2009. Martinez continued to build the program over his final two years at Science Park, leading the club to the Group One State Semifinals in 2010 and the Group One State Finals in 2011, capturing the Group 1 State South Sectional championship in the same season. The program's tremendous ascension into the state's elite earned Martinez head coaching duties for the New Jersey State Senior All-Star Game for three consecutive seasons, from 2009 to his final season with the program in 2011.
At the club level, Martinez founded the Lady Chargers Volleyball Academy in 2009, and currently acts as Club Director for the organization. Serving as an assistant coach from 2005-2008, Martinez helped guide the Newark 15U Girls Volleyball team one gold and two silver medals at the US Youth Games during his time with the club. Also serving as head coach of the National Hudson Lady Warriors club from 2007-2008, Martinez led the club to a 63-28 mark over two seasons.
A 2002 graduate of Kean University with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, Martinez starred as a member of the Cougars baseball team from 1996-1998 and spent a season as a student-assistant coach for the volleyball program in 2002. Continuing his education at Saint Peter's University, Martinez earned an Alternate Route Teaching Certificate in 2006, and a Master's Degree in Education, Administration and Supervision from the University in 2012. A Certified Personal Trainer, Martinez is also Coaching Fundamentals certified by the American Sport Education Program. The Bears head coach also holds IMPACT and CAP 1 certifications by USA Volleyball.
Residing in Fords, N.J., Martinez is currently a Physical Education teacher for Newark Public Schools, teaching kindergarten through eighth grade.
