NEWARK, NJ—New Jersey Institute of Technology will not renew the contract of women's volleyball coach JR Martins, Director of Athletics Lenny Kaplan announced.
 
Martins, who had led the program since 2009, had a combined record of 51-82 in five seasons with the Highlanders. Included was a 7-15 mark in the recently-completed season, which ended with five straight defeats.
 
The search for a new head coach will commence immediately, Kaplan said. The day-to-day operations of women's volleyball will be handled by graduate assistant Francesca Garay until a permanent replacement is found.
 
"On behalf of NJIT, I thank JR for his service and commitment to our volleyball program," said Kaplan in announcing the coaching change. "We wish him well as he moves forward."
 
The best season for Martins as a head coach was his first, when the 2009 Highlanders finished 17-11 and won Division I national statistical championships for team digs per set and individual digs per set (senior captain Sabrina Baby). Since that season, the Highlanders have had four straight sub-.500 season records.
 
Prior to taking over as head coach of the women's volleyball team, Martins, a native of Brazil, was the lead assistant for both the NJIT women's and men's volleyball teams for three seasons.
 
He became head coach in a re-organization, as Ryan McNeil, who had led both programs, handed off the job of leading the women's team in order focus on being men's head coach. In turn, Martins left the men's staff when he took over as head coach of the women.
 
As a four-year player at Lewis University in Illinois, Martins was captain of a team that won the 2003 NCAA National Championship on the court, but later vacated the title due to NCAA sanctions.