Scott Martin on Resilience: From Soccer Coach to Author

Scott Martin was at the peak of his coaching career when a rare, flesh-eating infection struck him down — taking both hands and parts of his feet. In an instant, the game that had defined his entire life seemed impossible to play, teach, or even watch the same way again.

But what followed was not a story of loss. It was a story of reinvention.

Redefining What's Possible

"Doctors told me I was lucky to survive," Scott recalls. "But survival wasn't enough. I had to relearn how to move, how to teach, how to coach — how to live."

Twenty-five years later, Martin had not just survived. He had rebuilt his body through sheer will and humor. He'd written a book. He'd adopted five children. And most remarkably, he'd returned to what he loved: coaching soccer. This time leading a ragtag group of twelve-year-olds who would go on to win an undefeated state championship.

The Power of Sport to Heal

What makes Martin's story so compelling is not the disability itself, but what came after it. Play From Your Heart is a masterclass in resilience — not the sanitized, Instagram-ready kind, but the raw, messy, sometimes hilarious reality of choosing to stand back up when everything seems over.

"Sport has always been about more than the game. It's about community, discipline, joy, and knowing that no matter how many times you fall, you can learn to move differently. You can learn to thrive."

His book speaks directly to anyone who's faced the unthinkable and still chosen to keep going — coaches, parents, athletes, survivors, and anyone who believes the human spirit is stronger than circumstance.

Coming June 9, 2026

Play From Your Heart launches June 9, 2026, from Library Tales Publishing, distributed by Simon & Schuster. Available in paperback ($17.99) and hardcover ($29.99) wherever books are sold.

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