Nikko Martell, the man who built Tohopekaliga’s baseball program from scratch, will become the next head coach at Osceola High School, Kowboys Athletic Director Rick Tribit announced Tuesday.
“Leaving Tohopekaliga is not something that I was really was looking to do. I love the school, the players and the time I spent there. But I also felt this was unique opportunity to take over a storied program with a rich history,” Martell said. “Opportunities like this do not come open very often. Coach Birchler built a first-class program with a winning culture and I am honored that the Osceola administration has the faith and trust in my ability to keep that going.”
“From the moment he applied for the job, I was absolutely interested in talking to him about the opening,” Osceola Athletics Director Rick Tribit said. “From my experience at Winter Springs, I know how difficult it is to start programs – especially in baseball. You simply do not have the resources, facilities, equipment and sometimes the athletes to compete for a long time.
"Nikko did a remarkable job of building the Toho program from scratch, where he only needed a few years to not only field a competitive team but a winning team. After he applied I reached out to a lot of other coaches and administrators and all the reviews and recommendations on his behalf were extremely positive. In the big picture, Nikko has developed a winning program, while remaining true to the ideals and importance of academics and community service.”
Martell, who served as an assistant coach at Gateway from 2013-18, was hired to establish the Tohopekaliga program when the school opened in 2018. After going 12-31 in his first three seasons, Martell posted a winning season in just his fourth season – going 10-9. The Tigers won a school-record 12 games last season, going 8-5 against county opposition.
The accomplishment – along with the culture he created -- earned Martell the prestigious Mike Fields Distinguished Leadership Award. Named after the former St. Cloud and Harmony baseball coaching legend, the award recognizes athletic achievement, sportsmanship and community service. Under Martell, Tiger baseball players and staff volunteered to work numerous campus events, including handling parking duties and interacting with campus visitors.
For the past couple of years Martell has organized and run the XT Preseason Classic, an honorary baseball tournament to remember his friend Xavier Torres; he also works closely with the Latinos in Action, helping create a Roberto Clemente Community Service Award for high school athletes who do volunteer work inside the community.
Martell has some big shoes to fill. In 21 total years of coaching at Osceola over two stints, Birchler won over 300 games with the Kowboys and eight district championships. His 2014 squad also captured a regional title and made a Final Four appearance.
“Coach Birchler had a great career and built a great program. We always spoke a lot and he helped my career with some great advice,” Martell added. “I will have my own way of doing things, but I will always be mindful of the tradition and culture of Osceola Baseball that Coach Birchler built.”
KOWBOYS WRESTLERS COMMIT
Gunner Holland and Anderson Heap, a pair of rising seniors in Osceola High’s wrestling program that have four state championships and six podium finishes between them, have announced their non-binding college commitments.
Holland, who won state championships as both a freshman and sophomore before finishing third in an injury-riddled junior season, will wrestle at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock. Heap, who finished second as a freshman in 2020-21, before taking state titles in his sophomore and junior seasons, has committed to Davidson University.
Both are Division I programs.
“It’s a good fit for both Gunner and Anderson,” Coach Rick Tribit said. “Arkansas-Little Rock has been recruiting Florida heavily in recent years and former Osceola state champion and Kowboys assistant coach Javier Maldonaldo is the assistant head coach there, so I am sure there was a big comfort level with Gunner.”
“Nate (Davidson head coach Nate Carr Jr.) has been recruiting Anderson heavily since the Powerade Tournament in Pennsylvania last December,” Tribit added. “Anderson is a really smart kid (currently ranked in top 10 in his class at Osceola) and wants to go into medicine. He was looking for both a school with high athletic and high academic standards and Davidson checks off those boxes.”
