Kam Martin Returns to UCF Football as Running Backs Coach
Kam Martin, the former Auburn running back who previously served as a recruiting and offensive assistant at UCF, is set to return to Orlando as the Knights' running backs coach. The announcement was made by head coach Gus Malzahn on Wednesday, marking a reunion between coach and player.
From Auburn Standout to Coaching Success
Originally hailing from Port Arthur, Texas, Martin established himself as a standout tailback at Auburn under the guidance of Malzahn. During his time as a player, he accumulated 1,564 career rushing yards, placing him 29th all-time in Auburn's record books. In 2019, Martin contributed a team-high 84 rushing yards against Arkansas and earned recognition on preseason watch lists for the Doak Walker and Earl Campbell Tyler Rose awards.
In 2018, as a junior, Martin played as one of the starting tailbacks, recording 458 rushing yards on 103 carries. He showcased his abilities with 116 rushing yards against Liberty and 58 yards against Purdue in the Music City Bowl. As a true freshman, he made a memorable impact with 176 rushing yards in the second half against Alabama A&M, including two touchdowns - a performance that ranks as the second-best second-half rushing total in Auburn history.
Prior to his collegiate career, Martin was recognized as a consensus national top 300 prospect out of Memorial High School in Port Arthur. A versatile all-purpose athlete, he also participated in the 2016 International Bowl in Arlington, Texas, as a member of the USA Football U19 national team. Throughout his high school career, Martin amassed over 3,500 combined rushing and receiving yards, along with 44 touchdowns. As a senior in 2015, he rushed for 962 yards and six touchdowns on 143 carries, adding 10 receptions for 133 yards. His junior season saw him rush for 903 yards and 17 touchdowns, while he recorded 1,060 yards and 16 touchdowns as a sophomore.
Notably, Martin anchored the Memorial 4x200-meter relay team, which set a national record of 1:23.84 at the district meet and later secured the 2015 Texas Class 6A state title in the same event. His cousin, Jamaal Charles, a fellow Port Arthur Memorial alumnus and college standout at Texas, enjoyed a successful NFL career as a four-time Pro Bowl selection at running back with the Kansas City Chiefs.
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In 2019, Martin was honored with the Hard-Fighting Soldier award from the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Coaching Career
Before his return to UCF, Martin served as the running backs coach at Texas State, a position he was appointed to in December 2022. Prior to that, he spent the 2022 season at Incarnate Word (UIW), where he played a crucial role in the Cardinals' record-breaking season. Under his guidance, UIW set a new program record for single-season rushing yards, amassing 3,011 yards - surpassing the previous record by over 1,000 yards.
Marcus Cooper, under Martin's tutelage, emerged as a standout performer, rushing for 1,436 yards, the sixth-highest total among FCS players, and earning All-Southland Conference honors. Cooper also set a program record with 254 rushing yards on 20 carries in a game against Northwestern State on Nov. 21, 2022, which included touchdown runs of 78 and 68 yards.
During the 2022 season, Incarnate Word consistently showcased a dominant rushing attack, recording 200 or more rushing yards in eight games and exceeding 300 yards on three occasions. Their exceptional running game propelled UIW to lead the nation in scoring offense, averaging 51.5 points per game. The Cardinals also achieved significant milestones, winning their second consecutive Southland Conference championship and reaching the FCS Playoff semifinals for the first time in school history.
Previous Stint with the Knights
Martin's connection with UCF dates back to 2021 when he served as a recruiting and offensive assistant. During that season, he worked closely with a talented group of running backs. Veteran Isaiah Bowser had a strong start to the season, rushing for 172 yards and scoring the game-winning touchdown in the season-opening comeback victory against Boise State. Bowser followed that performance with four first-half rushing touchdowns against Bethune-Cookman. Johnny Richardson ultimately led the Knights in rushing with 733 yards, ranking seventh in the AAC in all-purpose yardage at 96.92 per game, and earned fourth-team All-AAC honors from Phil Steele.
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Impact on UCF's Rushing Game
During Martin's time at UCF, he and his backs helped UCF rank fourth nationally in rushing at 228.2 yards per game, the third-best average in Knight history (behind 265.2 in 2018 and 234.8 in 2007). Leading the way for the Knights was running back RJ Harvey, who gained 1,416 rushing yards (fourth-highest season total at UCF and most since 2007) and scored 16 rushing touchdowns to rank sixth nationally, second in Big 12 and tied for second all-time at UCF. He ran for more than 100 yards in seven of his last eight games in 2023, including a career-high 206 in a landmark win over 15th-ranked Oklahoma State.
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