May 29, 2002
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Chris Denker, Colorado State University's new women's basketball coach, Wednesday announced the appointment of two assistant coaches to his staff: Jeff Dow and Benita Martin.
Both Dow and Martin were assistants the past two seasons at SCU under Denker, who guided the Broncos to a pair of postseason tournament appearances and a 41-18 (.695) two-year record.
Prior to his two seasons at Santa Clara (2000-01, 2001-02), Dow was the interim head coach at the University of Texas-San Antonio (1999-2000). He was also an assistant coach at Cal-Irvine (1996-99), where he was on the same staff for two seasons with Martin. From 1992-96, he was an assistant coach at New Mexico State, during which time the Aggies were 81-38 (.681), won a Big West Conference Championship and played in the WNIT. He began his coaching career at the University of Oregon from 1989-90 as a graduate assistant, and later served as an assistant coach at Texas A&M University-Kingsville and for one season was the team's interim head coach. Dow earned a bachelor's degree in 1988 and in 1991 obtained a master's degree, both from Oregon.
Martin spent the 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons at Santa Clara after having coached from 1997-2000 at Cal-Irvine. Martin spent the 1996-97 season as an assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and from 1993-96 was an assistant coach at the University of Northern Colorado. During her time in Greeley, the program had a pair of firsts: the Bears were ranked nationally and earned an NCAA Tournamentberth. Martin entered the coaching ranks at Metro State in Denver as an assistant from 1990-93 and had a 60-22 record that included back-to-back winning seasons.
Martin formerly played at Denver East High, then earned junior college All-American honors in 1988 at Barton County Community College in Great Bend, Kan. She earned honorable mention All-Big Eight honors in 1990 at the University of Colorado, leading the Buffaloes to an unbeaten conference record and No. 9 national ranking. Martin obtained a bachelor's degree in 1992 from Colorado, and a master's degree in 1996 from Northern Colorado.