This Muscogee head football coach has resigned. The team’s new leader is a familiar name

Kendrick High School will have a new head football coach next season.

Robert Martin Jr. confirmed to the Ledger-Enquirer he has resigned after two years leading the program. He cited unspecified medical issues as his reason.

While coaching the Cherokees and teaching special education at Kendrick, Martin has lived in Atlanta to be closer to doctor appointments and his sons. But the three-hour round-trip drive each school day became too much.

After the Cherokees went 1-9 in Martin’s first season at Kendrick, they went 3-7 in 2023 — their most wins in eight years.

Kendrick principal Alonzo James praised Martin for the improvement the Cherokees made under his leadership.

“He had a good impact on the kids and the overall program,” James told the Ledger-Enquirer. “Each year, he showed some progression. … He instilled discipline, and he made sure they were where they needed to be academically and helped them become good people.”

Martin, 42, played football at Frederick Douglass High School in Atlanta and Morehouse College. He was an assistant coach at Banneker, Grady, South Atlanta, B.E.S.T. Academy and co-defensive coordinator at Griffin before joining Kendrick.

His medical issues will prevent him from pursuing another coaching job, Martin said, but he still wants to be a special-education teacher — and he still will root for the Cherokees.

“I just enjoyed being around the Kendrick family and watching the growth of the student athletes,” he said. “I can’t wait to see the progress they’re going to make in the next step of their lives.”

Kendrick football team’s new head coach

To continue the program’s progress, James has turned to someone familiar with the Cherokees.

James has promoted Kendrick defensive coordinator Emmanuel Brown, who graduated from the school in 2014, played on the program’s last two teams to reach the state playoffs (2012 and 2013) and played linebacker for Albany State.

The Cherokees haven’t reached the state playoffs in 10 years. Since their state co-championship in 1991 (tied with Lakeside), they have qualified for the playoffs in only six of the past 33 seasons. Brown, however, is ready for that challenge, James said.

“He’s a product of Kendrick, and he’s a very good guy and very knowledgeable,” James said. “He’s been (on the coaching staff) for six years, so he’s been a part of what we’re trying to do, and he played on the last two teams that went to the state playoffs. He has a good rapport with the kids.”

James hopes the Kendrick fans will support Brown, 27, a relatively young head coach with no experience leading a football program as he tries to boost the Cherokees back to being a state championship contender.

“I want to make sure we have an adequate support system around him,” James said. “Maybe get some past head coaches (as assistants) or mentors. Kendrick at one time was a powerhouse, and we want the alumni and community to be involved. He understands the tradition Kendrick had.”

Martin thinks James promoting Brown is a wise decision.

“I know he wants to help bring back the glory Kendrick once had,” Martin said. “… I really think Coach Brown is ready for it. He’s young, but can relate to the players. He’s very inspiring, and he knows the kids in the community very well.”

Brown told the Ledger-Enquirer he is grateful for the opportunity to lead the team at his alma mater.

“I’ve seen the program at its worst and its high potential,” he said, “and that’s the potential where we should be.”

Although this will be his first stint as a head football coach, Brown has been the head coach of Kendrick’s flag football team and boys soccer team.

“I’m very energetic and passionate about what I do,” he said. “I like to lend a hand and lead by example.”

And he welcomes Kendrick family members to help.

“I want the community to support us on our journey to get back to where Kendrick was in the past,” he said.

Kendrick is the second Muscogee County high school to have a head football coaching change this offseason. The Ledger-Enquirer reported two weeks ago that Phil Marino of Columbus High is retiring. His successor hasn’t been announced. The L-E didn’t reach Columbus High athletics director Chad Mathis or principal Sonya Allen for an update on the search before publication.