Director of Player Development Paul Martin

Gopher hockey All-American alumnus and 14-year NHL veteran Paul Martin is in his fourth year on the Minnesota staff and second as a graduate manager. Martin returned to the Maroon and Gold as an undergraduate assistant for the 2020-21 season while completing his degree and is currently enrolled as a full-time graduate student heading into the 2023-24 campaign.

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 consecutive trips to the NCAA Frozen Four with a spot in the 2023 NCAA Championship game.

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 as WCHA playoff champions, was a Second Team All-American in 2003, while earning his second-straight Second Team All-WCHA accolade. He also was named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team in 2001. Martin remains 16th in Gopher Hockey history among defensemen with 97 points, while he is 13th among defensemen with 77 assists.

A second-round selection (62nd overall) by the New Jersey Devils in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, Martin went on to play 14 seasons in the NHL with New Jersey, Pittsburgh and San Jose. He made 870 regular-season appearances and totaled 320 career points (50 goals, 270 assists). Moreover, he led his teams to a playoff berth in each of his 14 seasons with 122 Stanley Cup playoff games and 46 playoff points (six goals, 40 assists). With the exception of a short AHL stint in his final season on the ice and one season in Switzerland during the 2004-05 NHL lockout, Martin played his entire professional career in the NHL before retiring in 2018.<

On the international stage, Martin was named to the U.S. Men’s Olympic Team three times in his career (2006, 2010, 2014). Prior to joining the Gophers, Martin closed out his prep career at Elk River High School as the Mr. Hockey Award winner in 2000 as the top senior high school boy’s hockey player in the state of Minnesota.

Off the ice, Martin created the Shine A Ligh7 Foundation in 2017. The Shine A Ligh7 Foundation is a non-profit organization raises awareness and reduces the stigma for those affected by bullying, depression, and mental health issues.

Martin completed his bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota in 2021 and went on to finish a Master of Education degree in Youth Development and Leadership in 2023 through the School of Social Work.