NEW LONDON, N.H. - Bill Foti and George Martin, who served Colby-Sawyer with distinction for more than 25 years, will be inducted into the college's Athletic Hall of Fame during Homecoming & Family Weekend.
Foti guided the men's basketball squad for 29 seasons and Martin led the women's basketball program for 26. Fittingly, the men who also worked side-by side as athletic directors from 2013 to 2020, will be celebrated together at the 2026 Athletics Hall of Fame ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 17.
"From the day I first stepped onto the Colby-Sawyer campus, it was clear that Bill and George have been more than just pillars of the department — they have been the foundation of Colby-Sawyer Athletics' growth over their tenures at the institution," said Jen McKillop, executive director of athletics and recreation.
"Together, they have created a lasting legacy that has impacted every student-athlete, staff member and coach they have worked with. We are incredibly excited to celebrate these two remarkable men."
Foti compiled a 486-259 record in nearly three decades with the men's basketball program. At the time, the 486 wins placed him in the top 25 for career victories among active NCAA Division III men's hoop coaches. He earned Coach of the Year honors five times across two conferences and, in 2020, Foti's peers named him the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Co-Executive of the Year.
He paced the Chargers to four NCAA tournament appearances and nine Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) tournaments. The 1997-98 team that clinched the ECAC title in 1998 was inducted into Colby-Sawyer's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015. Foti's teams also won five Commonwealth Coast Conference championships, including three in succession.
Foti mentored a number of incredible student-athletes, including All-Americans, Academic All-Americans, National Association of Basketball Coaches All-Northeast District players and ECAC All-Stars.
Current Colby-Sawyer men's basketball coach Shannon Sciria '09 said Foti has had a remarkable and lasting influence on him.
"I am a better husband, father, friend and professional because of his guidance over the past 20 years," Sciria said. "He consistently challenged me to become the best version of myself, both on and off the floor, and that has made all the difference in my life."
Foti said he is humbled by the Athletic Hall of Fame recognition.
"When Jen called with the news, it brought back so many happy memories of working with wonderful friends and coaching great and dedicated student-athletes," Foti said. "It's especially meaningful to me to go into the Hall of Fame at the same time as my dear friend and longtime colleague George Martin."
Martin compiled a 487-221 record in 26 seasons with the women's hoop program. When he completed his career on the sidelines, he was the winningest women's basketball coach in New Hampshire, ranked 24th in victories among active Division III women's coaches and had a winning percentage of .688. His basketball squads reached the postseason every single season; the Chargers captured seven conference championships, which resulted in seven NCAA Tournament appearances. Martin was a five-time conference Coach of the Year and mentored numerous winners of the player, rookie, defensive player, scholar-athlete and woman of the year awards. Multiple student-athletes who competed for him, as well as his 1998-99 team — which set the program's single-season victory total with 25 — are in the Athletic Hall of Fame. Martin also was a two-time conference volleyball Coach of the Year. In 1999, the squad won its first league title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The 2008 team finished runner-up in the conference tournament and made an ECAC appearance. Sara Hammond '01, an All-New England Women's Volleyball Association selection and a Women's Basketball Coaches Association District I First Team pick, said Martin had a profound impact on her college experience.
"He created an environment that challenged us to compete at a high level while emphasizing discipline, resilience, accountability and teamwork," said Hammond, an attorney, vice president of human resources at Olympia Hospitality and member of Colby-Sawyer's Board of Trustees.
"Our success in volleyball and basketball was a direct reflection of his leadership, preparation and unwavering belief in his athletes. His influence extended far beyond wins and records, instilling a standard of excellence and mental toughness that shaped both our performance and personal growth."
Martin said he's honored to be inducted.
"Colby-Sawyer College gave me 26 years of memories shaped by teamwork and a deep belief in the power of athletics to educate. Coaching women's volleyball and basketball, and later serving as director of athletics, was always about building something together," he said.
"To be inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside Bill Foti — after so many years working side by side — makes this honor especially meaningful. This recognition belongs to the student-athletes, coaches and colleagues who added to those memories and made Colby-Sawyer home."
In honor of Foti and Martin's decades-long service, support and dedication to Colby-Sawyer, the college is establishing the Foti-Martin Athletic Endowment, which will celebrate their legacy in perpetuity and create a sustainable fund to support athletics. To make a gift or learn more, contact Beth Bryant Camp '92, director of development, ecamp@colby-sawyer.edu, 603.526.3723
