Martin Heath
Encyclopedia
Martin Heath is a former professional squash
player from Oban, Scotland
.
Heath turned professional in 1994 after graduating from the University of Glasgow. He spent 11 years on the professional tour, including six consecutive years ranked in the world's top-10. His career-high ranking was World No. 4, which he reached in 1999. He won the Scottish national squash title six times. In 1996 Heath won the Singapore Open and repeated again in 1997, both times without losing a game. However, it wasn't until 1998 that Heath made his debut in the top 10 at No.7 by reaching the final of the Al Ahram International, beating World No.1 Peter Nicol in the semi-finals. At the time, the Al Ahram event was the largest purse to date at $175,000. In 1999 Heath reached the semi-finals of the World Open, losing to eventual champion Peter Nicol 3-1. In 2000, he finished runner-up at the Tournament of Champions
in New York City
(beating Peter Nicol
in the semi-finals, before losing to Jonathon Power
in the final). His last competitive year was 2002 in which he reached the semi-finals of the Pakistan Open and quarter finals at the British Open and World Open.
Since retiring as a player in 2004, Heath has worked as a coach and sports journalist, writing a column for Squash Magazine and commentating on many PSA tour events as color and lead commentator. Heath is currently the Head Squash Coach for the University of Rochester
men's varsity squash team, the "Yellowjackets". Heath led the team from a pre-season intercollegiate (CSA) ranking of No.28 in 2005 to No.3 in 2009. The Yellowjackets reached the semi-finals of the CSA National Championships in 2009, 2010 & 2011.
Heath also coached the US Junior Men's Team from 2007-2011, leading the team in Switzerland in 2008, India in 2009 and Ecuador in 2010. Heath was honored for his work with the National Team and his success with the University of Rochester by being named US Olympic Committee National Coach of the Year 2010.
Heath is married to Canadian Fenella Rawana and has a 3 year old son, Kamren Heath, both residing in Toronto, Canada.
Squash (sport)
Squash is a high-speed racquet sport played by two players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball...
player from Oban, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
Heath turned professional in 1994 after graduating from the University of Glasgow. He spent 11 years on the professional tour, including six consecutive years ranked in the world's top-10. His career-high ranking was World No. 4, which he reached in 1999. He won the Scottish national squash title six times. In 1996 Heath won the Singapore Open and repeated again in 1997, both times without losing a game. However, it wasn't until 1998 that Heath made his debut in the top 10 at No.7 by reaching the final of the Al Ahram International, beating World No.1 Peter Nicol in the semi-finals. At the time, the Al Ahram event was the largest purse to date at $175,000. In 1999 Heath reached the semi-finals of the World Open, losing to eventual champion Peter Nicol 3-1. In 2000, he finished runner-up at the Tournament of Champions
Tournament of Champions (squash)
The Tournament of Champions is an annual international squash championship held in New York City. In recent years, the event has been held at New York's Grand Central Terminal, in a specially-constructed four-walled glass court in the Vanderbilt Hall....
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
(beating Peter Nicol
Peter Nicol
Peter Nicol, MBE , is a former professional squash player from the United Kingdom, who represented first Scotland and then England in international squash. In 1998, while still competing for Scotland, he became the first player from the UK to hold the World No. 1 ranking...
in the semi-finals, before losing to Jonathon Power
Jonathon Power
Jonathon Tyler Power is a retired professional squash player from Canada. In 1999, he became the first North American squash player to reach the World No. 1 ranking...
in the final). His last competitive year was 2002 in which he reached the semi-finals of the Pakistan Open and quarter finals at the British Open and World Open.
Since retiring as a player in 2004, Heath has worked as a coach and sports journalist, writing a column for Squash Magazine and commentating on many PSA tour events as color and lead commentator. Heath is currently the Head Squash Coach for the University of Rochester
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
men's varsity squash team, the "Yellowjackets". Heath led the team from a pre-season intercollegiate (CSA) ranking of No.28 in 2005 to No.3 in 2009. The Yellowjackets reached the semi-finals of the CSA National Championships in 2009, 2010 & 2011.
Heath also coached the US Junior Men's Team from 2007-2011, leading the team in Switzerland in 2008, India in 2009 and Ecuador in 2010. Heath was honored for his work with the National Team and his success with the University of Rochester by being named US Olympic Committee National Coach of the Year 2010.
Heath is married to Canadian Fenella Rawana and has a 3 year old son, Kamren Heath, both residing in Toronto, Canada.