John & Mia Martin Athletic Scholarship

John L. Martin was head men’s swimming coach 1963-70 and 1973-74, women’s swimming coach 1974-75, head football coach 1986, assistant football coach for 28 years. He also served as chair of the Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Department. Author of the greatest era in Winona State University swimming history, John L. Martin coached his swimming teams to three conference championships and six top ten finishes in the NAIA national championships. His teams never suffered a losing season in dual-meet competition and two of his swimmers earned first team All-American honors. In 1977, Martin was inducted into the NAIA Swimming Hall of Fame. He also served as a member of the United States Olympic Committee, AAU Swimming Committee, Board of Directors of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, and assistant U.S. team coach during the 1973 World University Games held in Moscow. Martin earned both his undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and his Ph.D. from the University of Utah. He began his career at Winona State in 1963 and retired in 1993. Born and raised in Racine, Wisconsin, John often recalled fondly delivering coal or bakery goods to earn money as a youth. Following his enlistment in the U.S. Army in 1953 where he played in the Army’s European Football League, he enrolled at Wisconsin State College in La Crosse, WI where he played center and linebacker on the football team and earned a bachelor’s degree.

In La Crosse, John met his college sweetheart and love of his life, Mia Skaar. Together they raised three daughters in Winona and recently celebrated 57 years of marriage. They enjoyed living in Salt Lake City, Utah and skiing the mountains while he earned his PhD in Health from the University of Utah.
John’s career at Winona State University began in 1963 and he retired in 1993. Known mostly as “Coach,” John loved and respected his many swimmers and football players as sons of his own, who appreciated his humor and life lessons he taught. At WSU, he served as Professor, Health Physical Education and Recreation (HPER) Department Chair, Head Swimming Coach and Assistant Football Coach.

A highlight of his coaching career was his appointment to the U.S.A. Olympic Committee for two Olympiads and was selected U.S.A. assistant coach during the 1973 World Student Games held in Moscow. John is a WSU, NAIA, NSIC and Minnesota Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame Inductee. His legacy lives on with the many former athletes honored for their Hall of Fame inductions and their success in life.

John served on the design team for Winona’s Bob Welch Aquatic Center and was instrumental in ensuring the Winona facility could host competitive swim meets. John also represented WSU on the City Athletic Board where he served as President. John was honored for his service on the Westfield Golf Club Board.

John and Mia are WSU’s great football and basketball team fans. John’s favorite place was at his northern Wisconsin cabin where he could swim, boat and golf.

John passed away on September 18, 2014.

Scholarship contact is Mia.