by Malcolm Butler
Todd Martinez will join the rest of his family next academic school year after being named the head boys basketball coach at Cedar Creek School.
The announcement came via a press release from the school late Thursday afternoon.
Martinez comes to Cedar Creek after one year as the head boys coach at West Ouachita High School. He brings with him over 25 years of coaching experience and a long track record of developing competitive programs while building strong character in student-athletes.
His wife, Toni, served as the girls varsity assistant hoops coach where she helped lead the Lady Cougars to the state title game. His oldest daughter Taylor will be a senior while his youngest daughter, Gracie, will be in fourth grade this coming year.
“This past year I watched my two daughters fall in love with the school,” said Todd. “I have watched the same thing from my wife Toni. It is a special place with a small town community feel to it, but a huge vision for student growth.
“I feel like my girls know every students name on campus. That doesn’t happen at most places. I appreciate the opportunity Mr. (Kenny) Henderson has given me to be a part of this school community and vision moving forward. I have never worked at a K-12 school before.
“I can’t wait to see what can be accomplished with a strong pee-wee program. I always enjoyed working and developing players for four years. At Creek we may have young people for 5-6-7 or more years around the program. What an exciting opportunity.”
Todd Martinez replaces Lance Waldron, who departed to take the head coaching job at D’Arbonne Woods Charter School a few weeks ago. The Cougars posted a 15-10 mark and advanced to the state quarterfinals in 2025.
Prior to West Ouachita, Martinez served as head coach at Benton High School, where he led the Tigers to a 19-8 record and their first playoff appearance in nearly two decades. His earlier tenure at Captain Shreve High School spanned two decades, where he guided the team to multiple district titles and earned accolades including Shreveport Times All-City Coach of the Year and District 1-5A Coach of the Year in 2012, 2013, and 2014.
In addition to his work on the court, Coach Martinez has made a significant impact through his involvement with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). He co-founded the FCA Coaches Care Basketball Camp, which grew from 68 to over 900 campers in just three years — a testament to his passion for combining athletics and faith to uplift young lives.
Martinez has also held multiple leadership roles in the Louisiana High School Basketball Coaches Association, including President, Vice President, and Secretary, demonstrating his commitment to the broader coaching community in Louisiana.
He holds a B.S. in Health and Exercise Science from Centenary College and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Capella University.
