The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Women's Basketball
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach / Recruiting Coordinator
- Email:
- tmartin4@uab.edu
- Alma Mater:
- Illinois State '04
- Experience:
- 13th season
- Hometown:
- Savannah, Mo
Taren Martin begins her 13th season as the Associate Head Coach in 2025-26.
In her time at UAB, she has been a part of 211 victories, one Conference USA regular season championship and five postseason berths.
Martin has coached some of the most decorated players in program history including 2017 Conference USA Freshman of the Year Rachael Childress, First Team All-Conference performers Karisma Chapman, Janae Smith, Zakyia Weathersby, Deanna Kuzmanic and Childress. She coached Second Team All-Conference selection Ashley Grimes, Chelsee Black, Brittany Winborne and Margaret Whitley and All-Freshman selection Denim DeShields, Miyah Barnes, Caitlynn Daniels, Kuzmanic and Childress.
Additionally, she helped developed AAC All-Conference Third Team performers Mia Moore and Denim DeShields, while Moore also earned a spot on the All-Newcomer team in UAB’s first season in the American Athletic Conference. Helped develop Jade Weathersby to an AAC All-Conference Second Team during the 2024-25 season.
Martin Minutes
- Enters her 13th season as the Associate Head Coach in the 2025-26 season
- For the 2024-25 season, helped Sara Bershers and Jade Weathersby earn AAC Honorable Mention and guided Weathersby to an AAC All-Conference Second Team honor
- Finished the season ranked 25th nationally and third in the AAC in defensive rebounds per game (28.2)
- Ranked 26th nationally and first in the AAC in 3-point field goals per game (8.4)
- Ranked 31st nationally and first in the AAC in blocks per game (4.4)
- In the AAC, finished ranked in the top five in five categories: assists per game (3rd – 14.3), free throw percentage (3rd – 72.8), field goal percentage (3rd – 41.4), 3-point field goal percentage (3rd – 33.2) and points per game (5th – 67.0)
- Helped guide eight different players to totaling 98 double figure scoring games
- Assisted the team in setting the program record for the most made threes in a single game (20) at Tulane (02/07/24)
- For the 2023-24 season, helped develop Mia Moore to AAC All-Conference Third Team, All-Newcomer Team, Player of the Week, Honor Roll selection four times, Denim DeShields to All-Conference Third Team and Honor Roll three times, and assisted in Jade Weathersby earning Freshman of the Week two times
- Helped assist Margaret Whitley to All-Conference USA Second Team, Denim DeShields to the Conference USA All-Freshman Team and three Conference USA Freshman of the Week selections for the 2022-23 season
Eureka College
- Prior to arriving at UAB, spent three years as the head coach at Eureka College from 2010-13
- 2012 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) Coach of the Year
- Tallied 21 wins in 2011-12, the program’s fourth 20+ win season
- Set Eureka College single-game records in points scored (114), 3-point field goals (11), assists (35) and steals (41)
- In Martin’s inaugural season, the Red Devils boasted a 3.2 team GPA with five members named to the SLIAC All-Academic Team
Illinois State
Martin began her coaching career in 2004 at her alma mater, Illinois State, where she served as a graduate assistant before being named the director of operations while completing her master’s degree. Martin played a vital role in rebuilding the Illinois State program. Working alongside Randy Norton and under head coach Robin Pingeton, the Redbirds won three conference titles and made five trips to the post-season including consecutive WNIT semifinal appearances in 2009 and 2010.
Playing Career
Martin played at Illinois State from 2000-2004. In her senior season, she averaged 11.4 points, 4.6 assists and 2.6 steals per game while leading the Redbirds to a fifth-place finish and the team’s best record since 1996-97.
Martin received Illinois State’s Jill Hutchison Endowed Scholarship in 2003 and the Jill Hutchison Coach’s Award for her leadership and performance. Martin was the first Redbird to record 300 assists, 250 made free-throws, 150 steals and 100 3-pointers.
Personal
A native of Savannah, Mo., Martin graduated from Savannah High School where she was a three-sport All-Missouri State athlete in tennis, basketball and track. A starting point guard on the basketball team, she led her team to a second-place state finish three times. On the track, she placed second in the state in the 4x800 relay. In 2021, she was inducted to the Savannah Hall of Fame
Formerly Taren O’Brien, she married Patrick Martin in 2005. The couple resides in Trussville, Ala., with their four children, daughter Ryleigh and sons Jackson, Tyson and Treyson. Patrick is the Superintendent of Trussville City Schools. Ryleigh and Jackson are sophomores in high school, Tyson is in fifth grade and Treyson is in kindergarten.
