Don Hay joins staff

By Vernon Matters Staff

Hay Joins Martin

Rockets make coaching moves

Jun 27, 2025 | 2:44 PM

The Kelowna Rockets have officially named Derrick Martin as the 12th head coach in franchise history.

Martin had served as interim head coach since January, stepping in after the team parted ways with Kris Mallette. Now the interim tag is gone, and Martin is ready to lead the Rockets into a new era.

“It is a great day for my family and myself,” Martin told Vernon Matters. “We picked up our family and moved [them] here for a reason. I am proud to be in Kelowna. I can’t think of a better organization to be a part of.”

The Rockets also made a major addition behind the bench, bringing in legendary WHL coach Don Hay as associate coach. Hay, the league’s all-time leader in coaching wins, spent last season with the Kamloops Blazers but was not retained following the season.

“I think you want pressure as a coach,” said Hay, referencing the pressure that comes with Kelowna hosting the 2026 Memorial Cup. “We want to make sure from day one to the players that it means something.”

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Hay has four Memorial Cup titles to his name—three with Kamloops and one with Vancouver—and brings five decades of coaching experience to the Rockets bench.