Assistant coach Timothy Fischer confirmed on Monday that Martinez underwent surgery over that following weekend and was recuperating at home.
During the game's second half, Martinez reported feeling chest pains. His condition was promptly attended to by Diamond Ranch's athletic training staff and the on-site paramedics. Dennis Dunn, the school's athletic director, remarked on the harrowing event:
"It was scary, to see a coach come off the sidelines, you immediately start to worry."
He further added his gratitude for the swift response of the medical team, emphasizing the community's relief that Martinez is now on the path to recovery.
Assistant coach Fischer, who recently visited Martinez, shared insights from their conversation.
"He said that obviously it was a shock and wake-up call for him."
Martinez's ordeal has deeply resonated with the players and coaching staff, who have surrounded him with overwhelming support.
Amidst their winning streak, the team's focus remained on their ailing coach.
"We all got together on Saturday and tried to make it business as usual, but we were all thinking about coach (Martinez)."
The team believes that this challenging episode will ultimately bind them closer, fueling their motivation.
The team remains optimistic about Martinez's return to the field, although the timeline remains uncertain. Fischer shared:
"The doctor told him maybe he’s back on campus in two weeks and it could be 4-6 weeks before he can coach again."
These incidents should serve as a call for California high schools. The safety of student-athletes, coaches, and all involved in high school sports should be paramount, and having an equipped and trained athletic staff on standby is a critical component of that safety net.
But California is the only state in the nation without regulations on who can call themselves an Athletic Trainer. While they are working legislation through to address the gap, both coaches in these stories are very lucky they had a qualified AT on hand. Or the outcomes could have been very different.