One of Arizona’s premier junior college basketball programs has officially ushered in a new era. Eastern Arizona College announced the promotion of longtime assistant coach Chris Martin to head coach of the men’s basketball program following the departure of Cameron Turner, who recently accepted the head coaching position at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Martin takes over one of the ACCAC’s most successful programs, after serving as a key member of the coaching staff that helped elevate Eastern Arizona into a perennial national contender.
During his three seasons with the Monsters, Martin played an instrumental role in one of the most successful stretches in program history. Eastern Arizona compiled a remarkable 76-20 overall record, captured back-to-back Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC) and NJCAA Region I Championships in 2024 and 2025, and reached the NJCAA West District Championship Game this past season. The Monsters finished the 2024-25 campaign with a 29-4 overall record, a 16-2 conference mark and earned a No. 16 national ranking.
Martin’s impact extended well beyond wins and losses. Eastern Arizona became one of the nation’s elite offensive teams, finishing third nationally in offensive efficiency, while recording 28 NJCAA victories during the 2025 season. Player development also became a hallmark of Martin’s tenure. Numerous players earned All-ACCAC, All-Region I, and NJCAA All-America honors under his guidance, including standouts Armari Carraway and Raysean Seamster, who developed into two of the conference’s premier performers.
The program also excelled academically during Martin’s time in Thatcher. Eastern Arizona earned NJCAA Academic All-America First Team recognition in 2025 after posting a 3.46 team GPA, while maintaining a team GPA above 3.30 for three consecutive years. Three student-athletes recorded perfect 4.0 GPAs, and the program achieved a 100 percent sophomore graduation rate, while placing every sophomore on an athletic scholarship.
Before arriving at Eastern Arizona in 2022, Martin spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Corban University in Salem, Oregon, where he helped guide the Warriors to a Cascade Collegiate Conference Championship. Prior to that, he played collegiately at Cal State Los Angeles before transferring to Corban, where he was a member of the Warriors’ 2017 conference championship team. Martin earned both his bachelor’s degree in English Communication and his Master of Business Administration from Corban.
The promotion provides Eastern Arizona with continuity as one of the ACCAC’s flagship programs continues to build upon its recent success. Martin has been heavily involved in every aspect of the program, including recruiting, player development, scouting, and game preparation, making him a natural choice to lead the Monsters moving forward.
Replacing a coach who led the program to tremendous success is never easy, but Martin is well-positioned to continue Eastern Arizona’s winning tradition. His familiarity with the roster, recruiting connections and proven ability to develop talent should allow the Monsters to remain among the elite programs in both the ACCAC and the NJCAA.
The ACCAC remains one of the better developing junior college basketball conferences in the country, and Eastern Arizona is expected to once again compete for conference and regional championships under Martin’s leadership. I look forward to watching how Martin puts his own stamp on the program, while continuing the winning culture that has made Eastern Arizona one of Arizona’s top junior college basketball destinations for years.
