ELMHURST, Ill. - Former Elmhurst College basketball standout Chris Martin is returning to his alma mater to join the Bluejays as an assistant men's basketball coach.

Martin replaces Jason Hawkins, who left Elmhurst to become the head coach of Indiana University Northwest.

"I am extremely excited that Coach Scherer and [Elmhurst Athletic Director] Paul Krohn have given me the opportunity to come back and coach at my alma mater," said Martin. "Elmhurst has given so much to my wife, Haley, and I both on and off the basketball court and I am committed to give back to the College. At this point in my career, this is my dream job and there truly is no place I would rather be."

Martin spent three seasons playing professional basketball in Luxembourg and Germany, earning first-team all-league distinction all three years. He spent a year as head coach of the Bayer Leverkusen Giants in the Professional B League in Germany and helped guide the team to the playoffs.

Martin completed a stellar four-year career at Elmhurst during the 2005-06 season. He closed out his career as a two-time D3hoops.com All-American earning fourth-team honors in 2005 and third-team recognition in 2006. He became the first player in Elmhurst history to earn first-team all-conference honors on three occasions and is just the second player in school history to garner all-conference honors in each of his four seasons. He finished his career with 1,736 points (second all-time), 825 rebounds (fourth all-time), 366 assists (third all-time), and 249 steals (career leader in steals).  He is the only player in school history to finish in the top five in points, rebounds, assists, and steals. He will be inducted into the College's Bluejay Backer Hall of Fame this fall.

Martin earned his bachelor's degree from Elmhurst in 2005 and is completing a master's degree from Roosevelt University. Martin, and his wife, Haley, reside in Elmhurst.

The Bluejay basketball team closed out the 2010-11 season with a seventh-place finish in the CCIW.