Paul Martin

Biography

Golden Gopher hockey All-American alumnus and 14-year NHL veteran Paul Martin is in his seventh year on the Minnesota staff and moves into an assistant coaching role for the 2026-27 campaign under new Head Coach Brett Larson. He returned to the Maroon and Gold as an undergraduate student assistant for the 2020-21 season, completing his bachelor's and master's degrees, and spent the previous three years as the team's Director of Player Development. In 2026, Martin was inducted into the Minnesota State High School League's Hall of Fame. In his first season back on campus, Martin helped Minnesota win the 2021 Big Ten Tournament title and return to the NCAA Tournament. The Gophers then claimed back-to-back B1G regular season championships and made consecutive trips to the NCAA Frozen Four, including a spot in the 2023 NCAA Championship game. The 'U' added another regular season title in league play during the 2024-25 season, it's record seventh in the 12-year history of the league, to go with a fifth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance. A native of Elk River, Minn., Martin was a three-year letter winner for the Maroon and Gold while recording 97 points (20 goals, 77 assists) in 127 career games. The defenseman, who was an all-conference selection in each of his three seasons of college hockey, helped the Gophers to three-straight NCAA Tournament appearances including back-to-back national championships in 2002 and 2003. Martin, who won the Broadmoor Trophy with Minnesota in 2003