Joel Martin named head coach of ECHL’s Kalamazoo Wings, becomes seventh Black head coach in North American pro hockey history

The Kalamazoo Wings of the ECHL have named Joel Martin their new head coach and director of hockey operations.

Martin, 39, is the 21st head coach in Wings franchise history. He replaces Nick Bootland, who accepted a role as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Hershey Bears earlier this month.

For the past three seasons, Martin worked as an assistant under Bootland with Kalamazoo. Martin is now the first Black head coach in Wings history and only the second currently working in North American professional hockey, the other being Jason Payne of the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones.

✍️ The Kalamazoo Wings are proud to welcome Joel Martin as the team's new head coach! https://t.co/CeBqhGhIem

— Kalamazoo Wings (@KalamazooWings) August 15, 2022

Martin is a former professional hockey goaltender who spent nine of his 15 seasons with Kalamazoo, leading the team to a Colonial Cup championship in 2006. He was inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame in 2022.

“Joel’s vast experience as a professional hockey player, combined with his ability to teach and lead, will deliver excellence to our entire organization,” Wings owner Bill Johnston said Monday. “Joel has a detailed championship plan and we are excited to watch it unfold.”

“I’m honored to be named head coach and director of hockey operations for the Kalamazoo Wings,” Martin said. “I’d first like to thank my family for their continued love and support. Next, I’d like to thank Bill Johnston and Ronda Stryker, along with Brad Vandenberg for entrusting me with the opportunity to lead this historic franchise.”

Martin has strong ties to both Canada and the United States, having been born in Fort Worth, Texas before moving to Three Hills, Alberta (an hour outside Calgary) at a young age.

John Paris Jr. became the first BIPOC head coach in North American professional hockey history when he took over as a mid-season replacement behind the IHL Atlanta Knights’ bench in 1994, coaching the team to a Turner Cup championship that year.

Since then, Dirk Graham (NHL Chicago Blackhawks), Shawn Wheeler (ECHL Charlotte Checkers), Graeme Townsend (CHL Macon Whoopee/ECHL Greensboro Generals), Leo Thomas (SPHL Macon Mayhem), Payne, and Martin have joined the group of BIPOC head coaches of professional hockey teams in North America.