Izzy Martinez
American wrestler and coach (born 1982)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Izzy Martinez (born April 23, 1982) is an American former folkstyle, freestyle, and Greco-Roman wrestler who is the current chief operating officer of Real American Freestyle. He also coaches at Izzy Style Wrestling and Jackson Wink MMA Academy.
United StatesMartinez in 2025 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Israel Martinez |
| Born | April 23, 1982 Aurora, Illinois, U.S. |
| Website | izzystylewrestling.com |
| Sport | |
| Country | United States |
| Sport | Wrestling |
Event(s) | Folkstyle, Freestyle, and Greco-Roman |
| College team | North Idaho (2001–2003) Iowa (2003) |
| Now coaching | Izzy Style Wrestling Jackson Wink MMA Academy |
As a wrestler, Martinez was a three-time IHSA champion in high school wrestling and a one-time NJCAA champion in collegiate wrestling.
In coaching, his teams at Montini Catholic High School captured eight IHSA championships. He was a one-time NWCA Coach of the Year recipient, and has been inducted into the NWCA Hall of Fame.
Early life
Israel “Izzy” Martinez was born in Aurora, Illinois to Jose and Betty Martinez.[1]
In July 1997, Martinez competed in both the freestyle and Greco-Roman competitions at the Cadet National Wrestling Championships.[2][3]
He wrestled for West Aurora High School, compiling a record of 116-1 and three IHSA state titles before being removed from the team for rule violations before his senior year.[4] Martinez reportedly had trouble making weight, leading to the dismissal.[5]
College career
Martinez began attending North Idaho College, where he compiled a record of 27-0 and won the 2002 NJCAA championship.[6]
He then committed to Iowa in November 2002.[7]
While in his first year at Iowa, Martinez was dismissed from the school after being arrested for public intoxication.[8]
Coaching career
Martinez founded Izzy Style Wrestling in 2005, an Addison, Illinois wrestling academy.[8] Notable alumni of the school include Kennedy Blades, Tony Ramos and Real Woods.[1][8]
He also coaches wrestling at Jackson Wink MMA Academy, where he has trained mixed martial artists including Holly Holm, Jon Jones, Erik Pérez, Sergio Pettis, and Yair Rodríguez.[9][10][11]
After working as an assistant at Montini Catholic High School under Mike Bukovsky, Martinez was promoted to the team’s head coach in 2010. [12]
In 2015, Martinez was named Coach of the Year by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA).[13]
Before leaving Montini in 2020, his teams captured eight IHSA championships.[14]
Martinez was inducted into the NWCA Hall of Fame in 2020.[13]
After coaching Chad Bronstein’s son at a 2024 wrestling camp, Martinez was hired by Bronstein and Hulk Hogan as chief operating officer for Real American Freestyle.[8]
