Tennis facility, endowed scholarship named for coach Marty Berryman

Martin “Marty” Berryman, Collin College Tennis’ founding and longest-serving coach, made his mark on the tennis world and in the hearts of his students and players for more than 43 years in public education. Collin College will mark his accomplishments in the classroom and on the court by naming its tennis complex the Marty Berryman Tennis Center and establishing a scholarship endowment in his memory.

The Collin College Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve the tennis center naming on April 26 in accordance with a policy that allows for naming facilities to honor a person who “has made an exceptional contribution to” or “a substantial benefactor” for the college district.

Berryman passed away unexpectedly on Nov. 20, 2022. About 200 of his former students and players attended his memorial. Sharon Berryman, Marty’s wife, who attended the Board of Trustees meeting where the honorary naming was approved, said the attendance at the memorial was indicative of how well he was loved.

“He was a big tree with many branches,” Sharon said, adding that she was pleased that the college honored him with the facility name. “Collin College needed him, and he needed to be at Collin College. It was just a perfect fit for 33 years.”

Marty joined Collin College in 1988 after coaching multiple state-ranked tennis teams at Plano High School. Colleagues said Marty brought boundless energy to Collin’s tennis program, coaching the women’s team to its first National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Championship in 1991. The Collin College program won NJCAA national titles nine times – five men’s and four women’s championships – under his direction.

The women’s team finished in the top three in the nation 12 times. The men’s team finished in the top three 15 times. Both men and women finished in the top 10 in the country 27 times during Marty’s career with Collin. The program also produced 88 NJCAA All-Americans in that time. As a yearly fall community service project, starting in 2003, Marty and his players worked one-on-one with Special Olympians. The program lasted for 16 years into his final year at the college and was enjoyed by both sets of players.

Michael Mabe, a Collin College tennis player from 1999-2001 and assistant coach under Marty from 2004-06, said that Marty was a champion of the facility that will soon bear his name, encouraging the college to add multiple courts, spectator areas, and better lighting during his time as coach.

“The courts are immaculate now compared to when I first started,” Mabe said.

Still, Marty’s primary focus was always his students and players. Mabe said Marty always wanted his students and players to
be the best people they could be, teaching them to handle adversity, to adjust on the fly when needed, and the importance of hard work and dedication.

“He really had that ability to transcend tennis,” Mabe said. “I am sad that he is not here to enjoy this, but it is an honor
he richly deserves.”

The Collin College Foundation has also established the Coach Martin Berryman Endowed Scholarship fund to further honor Marty and give alumni and friends a chance to contribute in his memory. Cindy Brinker Simmons, a Dallas author, businesswoman, and philanthropist, shared a family connection with Marty and was delighted to join the campaign to honor his legacy.

“It was a joy to give the seed money, and there is already a groundswell of support for the endowment,” Brinker Simmons said. “I am confident that the campaign ahead will be successful because of the love, respect, and excitement to honor this amazing man by all of those who were impacted by him.”

Visit www.collin.edu/foundation/give/berryman.html for more information on the Coach Martin Berryman Endowed Scholarship and other opportunities to give the gift of education.