Commonly known as “The Quarterback Whisperer,” Tom Martinez died of a heart attack during a kidney-dialysis session on February 21. He coached football, softball and women’s basketball at College of San Mateo for 32 years until he retired because of health concerns.

Martinez was the most successful community college coach in the history of California, being awarded the 1995 California Community College Coach of the Year award as well as many other honorary posts.

Due to his declining health, in June of 2011, Martinez announced that he had about a month to live because of diabetes and cancer. He suffered from kidney failure and had been searching for a donor. Prior to his death, Tom Brady, quarterback for the New England Patriots, had been circulating a banner on MatchingDonor.com, where possible living donors could update the site on their options for those in need of organ donors.

Martinez had coached and continued to be the mentor of the New England Patriots’ quarterback, and groomed many other successful athletes from all around the world such as JaMarcus Russell of the Oakland Raiders, Matt Gutierrez of the Green Bay Packers, and Richard Bartels of the Arizona Cardinals.

Martinez began his coaching career in 1967 after graduating from San Francisco State University, where he was immediately offered the job as the coach for football and teacher of physical education classes. He also taught math classes and coached football and baseball at Jefferson High School until he received his master’s degree from Azusa Pacific University and then transferred over to College of San Mateo, where he would spend the rest of his coaching career.

Martinez was known to keep teams on their “A game”. Whether it was softball, basketball, football or whatever he was coaching, none would endure a losing season. Not only was he an inspirational quarterback guru, but he had an easygoing, optimistic attitude. Martinez was memorable for his great sense of humor both on and off of the field.

“You play hard, and you play right to the end,” Martinez would always say. And we will Coach, till the end. You will be missed.