Carl F. Martin, Jr.

Executive Director

Dr. Carl Martin has led the Real Champions Team since its inception in 2017, as Co-Founder and Executive Director. Carl was the smallest player on Danny Ford’s National Championship Football Team at Clemson University, graduating with a B.A. in Political Science in 1983. Coach Ford once said that “Pound for pound [Carl] is the toughest player on the team and possibly the strongest.” This kind of leadership and determination to succeed has always defined Carl—in football as well as in life and work. After completing advanced degrees at Southewestern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div., 1987) and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (D.Min., 1998), he went on to serve as Associate and Lead Pastor at churches in the Lowcountry and as a member of the Church Planting Team for the South Carolina Baptist Convention. He also launched Vision Ventures, Inc., to channel his expertise and passion for coaching and relationship building. For Carl, the South Carolina State motto “While I breathe, I hope” is mandatory for each person, but this hope comes through other people. He believes in the work of RCI because we provide for the most vulnerable children what he has always had in life: someone beside you, investing in you, believing in you.

2024 marks 41 years of marriage for Carl and his wife, Peggi. They have one daughter Lauren and two grandchildren Liam and Bennett.