The Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference has recognized the University of Redlands' former Director of Athletics Jeff Martinez as the 2026 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award. Martinez is now the sixth individual to have earned the award in school history and first since Dr. James Appleton in 2014.

In 1985, the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference created the Distinguished Service Award (DSA) to recognize an individual who has promoted collegiate athletics and the concept of the student-athlete as a coach, administrator, or long-term member of the conference and/or otherwise been involved with servicing college athletics on campus. The award may be given to nominees who have retired or resigned from athletics administration and who have rendered such meritorious service to intercollegiate athletics as may seem sufficient to entitle them to this honor.

After beginning his time on the Bulldog staff as the Head Athletic Trainer in 1983, Martinez quickly ascended into administration as the Assistant Director of Athletics before being named the Director of Athletics in July of 2000. 

Under Martinez, Redlands won both the 2022 and 2024 Men's Water Polo National Championships and claimed over 100 SCIAC Championships across all sports. The Bulldogs reached as high as 16th in the annual NACDA Directors' Cup, and in 2012, the Albuquerque native was named the NACDA Division III West Region Director of Athletics of the Year. Additional awards he won included the Daniel T. Dutcher Meritorius Service Award and Richard A. Rasmussen Lifetime Achievement Award. 

He also assumed the role of Head Coach of the women's golf team when the program was first introduced in 2007 and remained in that role until 2010. 

"The SCIAC was a special place to spend my career and I truly value the many meaningful relationships," said Martinez. "I am humbled to receive this recognition and honored to have my name added to the list of past SCIAC Distinguished Service Award recipients." 

Beyond Redlands, Martinez served as the chair of the SCIAC Athletic Administrators Group, the chair of the NCAA Championships Committee, and the chair of the NCAA DIII Management Council. In the community, he co-chaired the Special Olympics Host Town Redlands Organizing Committee and volunteered as a member of the Valley Prep School Board of Trustees.