Contract details for new Kentucky MBB assistant Chuck Martin released

Contract details for Jose “Chuck” Martin, who was announced as Kentucky men’s basketball’s newest assistant coach earlier this month, have been announced.

According to the University of Kentucky’s open records, Martin has signed a two-year deal with the Wildcats that will keep him on John Calipari’s staff through the 2024-25 season. He is set to earn $350,000 in the first year (2023-24) with a slight raise to $375,000 the following year (2024-25). The contract was agreed upon by both parties on July 1.

Martin first worked with Calipari at Memphis from 2006-08. He was most recently an assistant at Oregon (2022-23) and South Carolina (2017-22). Calipari says Martin will also serve as Kentucky’s recruiting coordinator.

“Chuck is a veteran in this profession who will be a great benefit to our team and staff,” Calipari said in Kentucky’s press release announcing Martin’s hiring. “He has ties not only to me when we were on staff at Memphis together but also to several other members of our staff. Chuck is an established coach who will be our assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, looking to open new doors to make our successful recruiting even stronger.”

Martin is the second addition to Kentucky’s coaching staff this offseason. John Welch, a longtime NBA assistant and father of former walk-on Riley Welch, joined the staff in May. In January, the NCAA approved an increase of two coaches in men’s and women’s basketball. That rule took effect on July 1, which was the same day that Martin signed his deal.

Martin started his career at Seton Hall (1999-2000) before coaching at Drexel (2001-04), St. John’s (2004-06), and Memphis (2006-08) as an assistant. After a five-year stint as the head coach at Marist from 2008-13 (in which he posted a 41-117 overall record), he then made stops at South Carolina (2017-22) and Oregon (2022-2023) again as an assistant.

With Martin and Welch now on staff, Calipari’s bench this season will include those two plus Bruiser Flint (associate to the head coach), Orlando Antigua (associate coach), and Chin Coleman (assistant coach). Former Kentucky point guard Tyler Ulis is also back for his second season as a student assistant.