Unbreakable father-son bond: U-High’s Andy, William Martin near end of special time together
by William Weathers // GeauxPreps.com Contributor
University High football coach Andy Martin saw the escape capability of his senior wide receiver William Martin from a young age.
The coach had always given his father Jude explicit instructions, try and keep an eye on elusive William during games when he was coaching, a journey that’s been a part of the father and son’s relationship at U-High.
Best friends and fraternity brothers Chad Mahaffey and Andy Martin coached together at Catholic High under Hall of Fame coach Dale Weiner. They left to become the head coach and defensive coordinator, respectively, at University High which won three state championships until Mahaffey left in 2019 to take over Walker High’s program.
For the past seven years there’s been a constant fixture on U-High’s sideline, Andy Martin as head coach and William Martin sometimes trying to shadow his father, all the while getting the best view of the Cubs in action.
“When you’re younger, you want to do what your dad does,” William said.
Exuberant would be one way to characterize William. He was always on his dad’s sideline since kindergarten, getting caught up in the emotion of a big play from his team.
That was never more evident than in a playoff game with Notre Dame when U-High returned a kickoff for a touchdown, bringing the home stadium to its feet.
Little did Andy realize that a young William had squirted past his grandfather and onto the field to celebrate the moment. He took it upon himself and aimed his ‘six-shooter’ at Notre Dame’s fans, drawing a look of disbelief from his father who still had a game to coach.
“My dad’s job was to make sure he didn’t run on the field, kind of watch him on the sideline,” Andy said. “I’m looking at my dad like, ‘what are you doing?’ I had to go on and pull him off the field.”
William’s love for his dad’s job never wavered. He became a ballboy for seven years, bridging the second through eighth grades, bringing him closer to the program, the players and his father.
He developed a particularly close relationship with LSU-bound running back Nic Brossette and enjoyed celebrating touchdowns with Virginia -bound running back Mike Hollins.
One of the family’s favorite photos is of Will Safford, who completed his baseball career at Louisiana Tech, picking William up off the Superdome turf with an ear-to-ear grin after another big play for the Cubs.
“He’s always the first one to greet those guys,” Andy said of his son. “He loved Nic Brossette. Every time he came off the field, they were doing something. He’s been around the program for a while.”
Photographs have also helped Andy chronicle some of the special photos with William, from U-High’s state championship in 2014 (when William was 7) to back-to-back state crowns in ’17-’18. When Andy became head coach, his son wasn’t usually far away.
Over the past four years, though, that relationship has developed into a bond between player-coach with William serving as the team’s holder on extra points and field goals and starting wide receiver.
They will take the field at U-High’s Jeff Boss Field for what’s expected to be the final time Friday at 7 p.m. when the fourth-seeded Cubs (9-2) meet District 6-3A foe Madison Prep (9-2), the fifth seed, in a Division II select state quarterfinal.
“This is always a fun week of practice without any school,” William said. “Thanksgiving mornings are always fun. It’s starting to sink in, that it’s getting close to the end. It’s fun, but you take a step back and start to realize this could be it if we don’t win this week.”
Andy Martin was also the product of having a father plugged into high school football.
Jude Martin was a physical therapist in Opelousas and was on the sideline when Opelousas Catholic played. Andy and his brother tagged along and also had seats on the team bus when the Vikings played road games.
“I think that’s what grew my love for sports,” said Andy, who went on to play for Opelousas Catholic. “I was on the sideline and rode the bus since I was in kindergarten. It’s kind of been the same for William. It’s come full circle.”
Instead of entering graduate school at LSU, Martin opted to follow Mahaffey and work for Weiner who made Catholic a perennial playoff program.
Andy was certainly appreciative.
“We weren’t very good,” Martin said of his playing days at Opelousas Catholic. “It wasn’t until I started coaching at Catholic that I went to the playoffs. I had never seen the playoffs. I didn’t get that opportunity when I was in high school. That’s OK, because I’m getting plenty of opportunities now.”
Martin coached the Bears’ running backs for six seasons and became Weiner’s defensive coordinator for a year after Gerry Garidel joined the coaching staff at Zachary High.
“When Chad got on at Catholic, they needed another person,” Martin said. “I was deciding on grad school and I applied. We stayed there until we went to U-High together.”
It had been 26 years since U-High had won its last state championship and second overall when the Cubs won three over a five-year stretch under Mahaffey, the Class 3A Coach of the Year in 2014 and ’17.
When Mahaffey left for Walker, Martin made a visit to the campus and saw the facilities but opted to remain at U-High and became a head coach for the first time.
“Chad was trying to get me to go with him,” Martin said. “I went to look, but I felt I was being pulled to stay here. I had my kids (William and twin daughters Elise and Katelyn) coming to school and that was a big part for me, having my kids at the same place I was. I thought that would be awesome and it has been. I’m glad I made the decision to stay here and take over.
“Chad helped me out a lot before I became a head coach,” Martin said. “A lot of the decisions he made were decisions that we made together. Everything we were doing, he was allowing me to help him out one way or the other, and obviously he had the final decision as the head coach. He allowed me in a lot of these things to make decisions so when I took over, I felt it was pretty seamless because we helped developed this program together.”
William had always taken an interest in his father’s vocation, especially when he became U-High’s head coach.
His tackle football career began in the sixth grade, but he was certainly advanced for someone who had never played the game.
William recalled as a 10-11-year-old sitting with his father, who was in full work mode, watching film and jotting down notes.
“You’re trying to understand what he’s doing,” William said.
The two Martins had divergent interests with Andy’s background as a defensive coordinator, and William’s attention on the receivers
William saw what opposing offenses were running, which plays were either successful or failed, and how teams defended them.
“I asked him questions,” he said. “I remember talking in his office about what they (opposition) wanted to run and how they would defend it. I paid attention.”
Andy said William became so familiar with the intricacies of offense and defense that when U-High lost its offensive coordinator at the middle school level, William became a resource.
William’s knowledge was the result of attending early-morning meetings before school with other quarterbacks. He was able to help install some of the offense and was aware of the quarterback’s play calls.
“I was in the sixth grade and would meet with the quarterbacks before school,” he said. “You eventually start to understand what’s going on. You start to see things that maybe someone else didn’t see, start to understand how the game works, how to attack different things, attack different matchups in the game.”
“He’s done that for a while,” Andy said. “He’s helped me at my football camps every year. I’ll give him a part of the camp.”
William said it was common for the two to slip out of an LSU game midway through the third quarter, go home and watch film of the Cubs’ next opponent. They sat down, with the LSU game blaring in the background on the television, and broke down film, giving William an appreciation for an unsung part of his dad’s job that most people may have taken for granted.
“When you saw him on Fridays,” William said, “you understood where he had been and the time he put in. I learned that winning games was mental because of the amount of preparation.”
U-High won the school’s sixth state title, which was Martin’s first, in 2021 with a 14-7 win over E.D. White at UL’s Cajun Field in Lafayette.
The next season William was part of U-High’s football team. A year later, one of team’s assistants suggested that because of his soft hands, William would be a great candidate to be the team’s holder on extra points and field goals.
“Being a dad, you’ve always got to be careful with your son and what you try and push him for,” he said. “One of the other coaches said he had the best hands on the team, and that he really knew the game. We started doing that and it’s been three years.”
William’s first moment in the varsity spotlight was Sept. 15 of that season when University, which lost to Rummel 20-17 the week before, secured the snap on a game-winning field goal from Granville Anderson for a 31-30 triumph over Catholic High,
“Granville showed me how to stay calm under pressure,” he said. “Being there the first year gave me a sense that we could do this. It’s a big point for us in the game. That was a really fun team. We came up short (10-7 loss to St. Charles in Division III select semifinals). They showed us what it takes to be able to get there, to get a semifinal and be a play away from the Superdome. The first year was really fun. I didn’t have to worry about playing receiver. On Friday nights I had one job.”
William’s sole focus was at holder while he worked toward earning a chance at receiver where U-High had traditionally been well stocked at the position.
He enjoyed another highlight in 2024 when U-High was involved in a scoreless ‘slop fest’ where conditions had deteriorated in a season-opening game at Woodlawn. The Cubs finally got in position for kicker Mason Melancon to kick a game-winning 30-yard field goal out of Martin’s hold with 8:59 to go in the fourth quarter for a 3-0 victory.
“What I’ve enjoyed has been to see his growth and development,” Andy said. “We talk about kids all the time having to wait their turn, working hard and try to get on the field and that’s what he’s done. He’s sat behind some really great receiver rooms where he just learned and continued to get better. He’s gotten bigger, stronger and faster.
“He had a huge spurt with his strength this year,” Andy said. “We have three different levels you can get to. Before, he wasn’t on any of the levels, and this year he got to the second highest where he almost got onto the board and got his picture on it. His speed and strength went up tremendously. He’s worked hard. We have a lot of kids like that have bought into the program, did the right things did the right things, waited their turn and it’s created success for them.”
U-High, 11-2 in 2023, weren’t able to play in last year’s playoffs because of the use of ineligible players. They were credited with a 1-9 record and missed the postseason for the first time in 19 years.
A brighter future awaited where William, who had six catches for 40 yards and a touchdown in his first two seasons, would have his day in the sun.
“We worked constantly in the offseason to get better,” said William, also a member of the baseball team and missed the spring. “Coming into the summer I knew I had a challenge and an opportunity to start. I took it and ran with it and never gave it up.”
. . .
The overriding theme William took into the 2025 season was U-High playing in the Division III state championship game, with the Cubs standing at the end.
That would be the fairy-tale end for a group of 20 seniors Martin thought about more than the sentimental season it would be for him and his dad.
“You come in saying you want to be playing on December 12 and that’s always the goal,” he said of the state title game scheduled for 7 p.m. “We’re trying to enjoy the moment we’re in. We’re trying to enjoy this week and hopefully enjoy the next two weeks after that. You can look at it as a whole and say this is coming to an end. We’re just taking it week by week. That’s one thing that we do really well here, not look ahead.”
Andy Martin, a 25-year coaching veteran, returned to calling the team’s defense against after losing his defensive coordinator in May. He’s also a big proponent of special teams play, overseeing that unit where his son was entrenched as the team’s holder.
“I think special teams is the biggest part of the game where you can steal points from,” he said.
Andy was also cognizant of what this year meant coaching his only son for the final time. All of those times watching him run around on the sideline, serve as a ballboy, and ride home together talking about the game, had suddenly evaporated into a 15-week opportunity for them to be together one final time.
“I was excited to be a part of this season with him,” he said. “We talked a little bit about it. You know going into the season that at some point it’s coming to an end and for me, it’s going to be very bittersweet. He’s been on the sideline with me for 12 years. When it does eventually end, it’s not going to be the end of not just his playing career, but the end of what we’ve had for a while. It will be a little emotional when it happens.”
U-High was 1-2 following losses to Class 5A stalwarts Rummel and Catholic before reeling off a seven-game winning streak to end the regular season. Their path to the District 6-3A was filled with five blowouts and a contested 14-8 win over Madison Prep on Oct. 31.
Andy’s been privy to six Senior Nights at U-High, but nothing approached the lump-in-your-throat moment of escorting his own son across the field for the final time. It was a family gathering that included his wife Melissa and twin daughters who are both cheerleaders for the Cubs.
“She was very emotional,” Martin said of his wife. “I’ve been through a lot of Senior Nights and helping a lot of kids out. But being your own, it’s a different deal. I see all of these kids as my own. I think the benefit of having a kid and once you become a dad, it gives you great perspective as a coach. That Senior Night was a little emotional.”
William did his best to maintain his thoughts about the game that followed the pregame ceremony.
“I had been thinking about it,” he said. “In the moment you’re thinking we have a game to play after this. It was a cool moment. It was the last time with my mom and dad on the field. I think we love the opportunity we’ve had here.”
William’s enjoyed the best season of his career with 18 receptions for 229 yards and four TDs, ranking second on the team in catches and yards. He’s also initiated a pair of two-point conversions, running out of the team’s swinging gate formation.
Martin enjoyed a personal highlight in last week’s 50-16 state regional win over Booker T. Washington of Shreveport. For the first time in his career, he secured two touchdown passes, with each coming in the first half for a 29-0 advantage.
“It’s always a delicate balance when you’ve got the coach hat and the dad hat,” Andy said. “From the coach’s perspective, I’m very happy about it. From a dad’s perspective, I’m really happy about it. I love watching him play. It’s hard to put into words how special it was. Just getting to see him every single day and the bond that we have. When it’s over it’s going to be a bit of a change.”
William understands the impending finality. He’s hopeful U-High extends its season three more weeks, giving him and his dad additional time together on the practice field and potentially a triumphant return to the Superdome.
They’ve filled plenty of trips home with football talk, particularly games that may not have gone U-High’s way with William pushing for reasons to understand the final result.
“I wanted to understand what’s going on here, what’s going on there,” he said. “How did this happen? After a win, we’ve talked about the things that went right. It’s not always just straight ball. We like to have fun and talk about different things.”
There’s also a hobby they’ve shared such as deer hunting, which traditionally brings the Martins together for practice on Thanksgiving morning followed by a trip to the woods.
“He’s really enjoying this year, getting to play full time,” Andy said. “He’s earned his way into doing that.”
William plans to audible on his next move after football. Instead of following his dad’s path to the sideline, he’s planning to pursue a degree in pre-med at LSU.
“I always thought when I grew up, I wanted to be a coach,” he said. “Taking a step back and really thinking about it, I don’t think I want to do it. It’s something I can do, and I’ve been around the game long enough to do it. I think it’s better to go do something else, do something I think I can do well and do different things than this (football) and really benefit me.
“My mom’s going to drag me out to see them play,” he said of next season. “My two sisters are cheerleaders. The biggest thing is getting away is not always bad. Taking a step back and realizing now it’s time for me to go do something and stop relying on this place. This place has been great. It’s always going to be home for me. I grew up here in the same (dad’s) office. It’s definitely going to be a little different, but I’ll figure it out, find something I truly like.”
As for football, they’ve always had something in common by attending LSU games, but the games won’t necessarily take up all of their time.
“We have a good enough relationship that’s not just based around football,” he said. “We’re still probably watch a couple of LSU games together, still talk about them and get mad at them. We’ll talk about life in general because he’ll give me great advice which will help. Sports is a main topic, but it’s not the only topic we enjoy together.”
Andy and Melissa where adamant William navigate his own course outside of coaching and that if for some reason he found his way back to his roots, he has their blessings.
“He’s been around the game his whole life,” Andy said. “He was on the sidelines with us, and at practices. He knows the game very well. When I look at photos and when I’m on the field, he’s right behind me. He’s been there for a long time. It’s going to be very different next year.”