Chris Martin: The Man Behind LSU’s New Era of Strength and Conditioning

When I first got to Chicago a couple of weeks ago, I jumped on a Zoom call with a guy I’d been meaning to connect with for a while—Chris Martin. If you follow college baseball closely, you might know the name. He’s LSU Baseball’s new Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, fresh off a run with the Houston Astros organization. If you don’t, then I’m excited to introduce him to you.

Our connection started the way most baseball friendships do—nerding out about the game. Back in Baton Rouge this spring, as I was getting myself ready to pitch again, Chris showed me a slider grip that I’ve actually carried into my own outings with the Chicago Dogs. That simple exchange—two pitchers talking grips—set off a conversation that dug way deeper than mechanics. It opened the door to who Chris Martin is and why he’s one of the more thoughtful young coaches I’ve come across in the game.

From Pitcher to Practitioner

Chris’s journey starts in Mason, Ohio, where he grew up before pitching five years at Kent State. He earned two degrees in exercise physiology there—both undergrad and graduate—while winning a couple of MAC titles along the way. That blend of science and sport has been the through line of his career.

In 2018, he interned at Cressey Sports Performance, a name many in the baseball world know for its pioneering work in injury prevention and performance training. That was a cool overlap for me personally, since Eric Cressey was heavily involved with the Red Sox medical and performance team when I was in Boston. Chris soaked up that philosophy, then quickly found himself in the pro ranks with the Houston Astros.

He joined Houston as a strength and conditioning apprentice, then became a Minor League S&C coach, and by 2021 was coordinating rehab for players working back from major injuries and surgeries. Eventually, he was overseeing the entire Astros minor league system—domestic and international—including their Dominican Academy. Ten players made their MLB debuts under his watch. Not bad for someone still in his late 20s.

LSU Comes Calling

Last summer, Chris got the kind of phone call that changes a career. On the Fourth of July, Jay Johnson, head coach at LSU, reached out and offered him the chance to lead strength and conditioning for the reigning national champions. For a kid from Ohio who’d grinded through the minors, the answer was a no-brainer.

And LSU didn’t just hire a trainer—they hired someone who sees the game through the eyes of both an athlete and a scientist. Jay Johnson praised his intelligence, his programming, and his ability to get buy-in from elite athletes. That’s no small thing when you’re dealing with some of the best players in the country, many of whom will hear their names called in the first round of the MLB Draft.

The Human Side

What I wanted to get across in my conversation with Chris—and what I think is most important to highlight here—is the human being behind the title. He’s a coach who leads with empathy and connection. And he said something that stuck, "People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care."

That’s why he makes it a priority to build trust. He’s been in a player’s shoes. He knows what it’s like to chase a dream, to fight through setbacks, to wonder if the work you’re doing is paying off. His job now isn’t just to build stronger athletes—it’s to help them become better baseball players. There’s a difference, and he’s intentional about it.

Breaking Down Walls

One of the other things I found refreshing is Chris’s openness. In pro ball, he explained, a lot of information is guarded, almost secretive. At LSU, he finally has the freedom to share more openly, posting content that high school coaches, players, and even parents can learn from. His mindset is simple: if he can help a kid stay healthy or unlock a new level in their game, why wouldn’t he share that knowledge?

That openness makes him an asset not just to LSU, but to the broader baseball community. And it’s part of why I wanted to kick off this two-part series by focusing on the person of Chris Martin, not just the coach.

What’s Next

In Part Two, we’re going to dive deeper into the exercise science side of what Chris is doing at LSU. We’ll talk about movement patterns, baseball-specific training protocols, and the technologies he’s implementing with one of the premier programs in the country. But first, it felt right to highlight who he is and the path that brought him here.

Because before you can understand a coach’s program, you need to understand the person. And in Chris Martin, LSU has a coach who knows the science, respects the grind, and—most importantly—cares deeply about the athletes in his charge.