The 37-year-old will join the Otago national championship coaching staff this season.
The qualified teacher has been granted 10 weeks' leave from Otago Boys' during the Mitre 10 Cup season so he can take up a role as Otago's attack coach.
''What an opportunity,'' Martin said.
''What is really cool is there is still a pathway for aspirational amateur coaches.
''I think the good thing with coaching at grassroots level is you can make mistakes and the repercussions are not really big,'' he said, adding it had been a great learning environment.
Martin will continue to coach the first XV and run the school's high performance programme. He is also coaching the Kaikorai senior club side, so he has a very busy season ahead.
But during his absence from the school he will be completely focused on his new role of plotting line breaks and coming up with creative moves for Otago.
''I believe that is where my strengths are and we are looking to be innovative in our approach around that area of the game.
''It is something I'm really passionate about.''
Otago Rugby Football Union general manager Richard Kinley said Martin would be an asset to the coaching staff.
''He has proven to everyone involved in Otago rugby he is destined for higher honours and this is part of the pathway,'' Kinley said.
''We are thrilled he has taken the next step with Otago rugby.''
A former halfback, Martin played for Otago Boys' when he attended the school in the 1990s. He captained the first XV team which shared the national title with Rotorua Boys' High School in 1998. That team included All Black great Richie McCaw.
Martin spent five seasons with Alhambra-Union and another five with Pirates.
He approaches rugby like a game of chess and enjoys analysing opponents and looking for areas where his team might have an advantage.
He is very ambitious about coaching and has drawn inspiration from Black Caps coach Mike Hesson's rise from provincial assistant to respected international coach.
Like Hesson, Martin has not played at the top level and has had to make his name through hard work and diligence.
He got his start with the West Taieri under-10s in 2008.
''I always had a real passion around coaching and working with players. Being able to move into this role just gives you the ability to put all your energy into it. To me, that is pretty exciting.''
Martin will join head coach Ben Herring and assistants Tom Donnelly, Kane Jury and Lee Allan.