Martinez Joins USC Track and Field/Cross Country Staff
July 15, 2025 | Track & Field
Brenda Martinez brings a wealth of experience into her role as the Assistant Coach for Distance and Cross Country.
LOS ANGELES – USC Track and Field is excited to add Olympian Brenda Martinez to the coaching staff, Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Quincy Watts announced today.
"We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Brenda Martinez to our coaching staff as Assistant Coach for Distance and Cross Country," Watts said. "As an Olympian born in Upland, California, and a proud native of Rancho Cucamonga, Brenda brings with her a wealth of experience at the highest levels of our sport. Beyond her remarkable career as a professional athlete, she has been an inspiring mentor to young men and women across the country. Her passion for coaching, combined with her deep understanding of what it takes to succeed both on and off the track, makes her an incredible addition to our program. We're equally excited to welcome her husband, Carlos Handler, and their daughter, Socorro, into our Trojan Family!"
Martinez brings a wealth of experience as a professional athlete and coach into this role as the Assistant Coach for Distance and Cross Country. On the coaching side, Martinez created the Big Bear Track Club back in 2014. Through this group, she developed post-collegiate athletes into world-class runners. Some of the athletes she worked with through this organization included 2016 Olympian and World Champion Boris Berian, World Indoor qualifier Jenna Westaway, USATF Indoor finalist Olicia Williams, and two-time Olympic Trials qualifier Dusty Solis.
Along with her coaching experience, Martinez also competed professionally, representing Team USA on six occasions. She was a part of Team USA for the 2016 Olympic Games and made five IAAF World Championship appearances, including a second-place finish at the 2013 IAAF World Championships in the 800. During her professional career, she put up career-bests of 1:57.91 in the 800 and 4:00.94 in the 1500. She signed her contract with Team New Balance in 2010 and competed with them until 2023. Currently, she sits on the Athlete Advisory Board for New Balance.
Before her professional career, the Rancho Cucamonga native competed for the Highlanders of UC Riverside. During her time with the cross country and track and field programs, she was a three-time All-American while earning All-Big West honors for three-straight seasons. Not only that, but she was also named the 2009 Big West Track Athlete of the Year while finishing in second place at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 1500. She still holds the records for the mile and 3000 in the indoor track and field record books and holds the 800 and 1500 records in the outdoor record book.
"I'm incredibly honored to join the Trojan Family and be part of a program with such a strong legacy," Martinez said. "I'm very appreciative to Coach Watts, the entire USC staff, and administration for this opportunity. I am excited to work alongside this remarkable coaching staff and give back to the sport I love. I've always believed in building from the inside out — helping athletes grow not just as runners, but as people. Fight on!"
Martinez begins as the Assistant Coach for Distance and Cross Country immediately.
"We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Brenda Martinez to our coaching staff as Assistant Coach for Distance and Cross Country," Watts said. "As an Olympian born in Upland, California, and a proud native of Rancho Cucamonga, Brenda brings with her a wealth of experience at the highest levels of our sport. Beyond her remarkable career as a professional athlete, she has been an inspiring mentor to young men and women across the country. Her passion for coaching, combined with her deep understanding of what it takes to succeed both on and off the track, makes her an incredible addition to our program. We're equally excited to welcome her husband, Carlos Handler, and their daughter, Socorro, into our Trojan Family!"
Martinez brings a wealth of experience as a professional athlete and coach into this role as the Assistant Coach for Distance and Cross Country. On the coaching side, Martinez created the Big Bear Track Club back in 2014. Through this group, she developed post-collegiate athletes into world-class runners. Some of the athletes she worked with through this organization included 2016 Olympian and World Champion Boris Berian, World Indoor qualifier Jenna Westaway, USATF Indoor finalist Olicia Williams, and two-time Olympic Trials qualifier Dusty Solis.
Along with her coaching experience, Martinez also competed professionally, representing Team USA on six occasions. She was a part of Team USA for the 2016 Olympic Games and made five IAAF World Championship appearances, including a second-place finish at the 2013 IAAF World Championships in the 800. During her professional career, she put up career-bests of 1:57.91 in the 800 and 4:00.94 in the 1500. She signed her contract with Team New Balance in 2010 and competed with them until 2023. Currently, she sits on the Athlete Advisory Board for New Balance.
Before her professional career, the Rancho Cucamonga native competed for the Highlanders of UC Riverside. During her time with the cross country and track and field programs, she was a three-time All-American while earning All-Big West honors for three-straight seasons. Not only that, but she was also named the 2009 Big West Track Athlete of the Year while finishing in second place at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 1500. She still holds the records for the mile and 3000 in the indoor track and field record books and holds the 800 and 1500 records in the outdoor record book.
"I'm incredibly honored to join the Trojan Family and be part of a program with such a strong legacy," Martinez said. "I'm very appreciative to Coach Watts, the entire USC staff, and administration for this opportunity. I am excited to work alongside this remarkable coaching staff and give back to the sport I love. I've always believed in building from the inside out — helping athletes grow not just as runners, but as people. Fight on!"
Martinez begins as the Assistant Coach for Distance and Cross Country immediately.
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