Martinez came to Bethel as a freshman in 1986 from a strong Mishawaka Marian High School program under the direction of Coach Mike Lightfoot. Martinez sparked his Mishawaka Marian team in his senior season, which caught the attention of Bethel's head coach, Homer Drew. Homer Drew left Bethel after the 86-86 season, which gave way to Martinez's high school coach, Mike Lightfoot, to take over at the helm for the Pilots. Through the next three years, Martinez become a force wearing the #44 Pilots uniform. During his senior year, Martinez helped the Pilots to their first MCC regular-season championship, finishing the season 30-7. Over his four years, the Pilots’ record reached 110 wins to just 36 loses, making the class of 1990 the most successful class of Pilots in program history.  As the team success swelled, so did the individual awards and records for the dominating center. Upon completion of his athletic career at Bethel, Martinez's name littered the Pilots’ record book.
- 1st in rebounds – 1,728
- 1st in points – 2,620
- 1st in field goal % - 59,8%
- 1st in blocks - 197
- 1st in games played - 145
- 4th in free throw % - 81.0%
- 6th in assists – 462
- 3-time NAIA All-District Honorable Mention
- 3-time NAIA All-American
- 2-time NAIA Academic All-American
- 3-time Bethel Classic All-Tournament Team
- 3-time All Mid-Central Conference
- 3-time NCCAA All-American
- 4 additional single season records
In 1991, one year after his graduation, the Bethel men's basketball program retired Martinez’s #44 jersey. To this day it hangs in Championship Lobby of the Wiekamp Center. Martinez's path did not stray far from Bethel or basketball. After a short stint of playing professionally in Mexico, Martinez and his wife, Sonya, made Mishawaka their home. Martinez joined the men’s basketball coaching staff while he continued his education, and during his time as an assistant, the Pilots won two NCCAA National Championships ('92 and '93).  He then took a teaching and coaching job at South Bend Saint Joseph High School where he coached basketball, football, and track & field. In 1998, Martinez once again was on the sidelines for Bethel as the head coach for the women's basketball team. In his 16 years leading the way for the Lady Pilots, the team won six NCCAA national championships, made seven trips to the NAIA national tournament, and won the MCC regular season three times as well as the 2008 MCC Tournament Championship. With all the accomplishments that have come to the women's program, the one that speaks to the amazing consistency and development of players is that in 15 of his 16 seasons, the Lady Pilots won 20+ games. What makes this fact even more amazing is that before Jody took over in 1998, the program had never experienced a single winning season.
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During his time at BC, Martinez was not alone in his coaching endeavors. Sonya was an assistant coach in the program dating all the way back to 1998. Together they made an impact on countless lives and built up young women beyond the game of basketball. Along with the X's and O's of the game, the Martinez duo ran Bible studies, retreats, and mission trips for their athletes. As the skipper for the Lady Pilots, Martinez led trips to Alaska, Hawaii, West Virginia, Mississippi and the Dominican Republic.
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