It’s been seven seasons since Coach Doug Martin took over Kent State Flashes football.

Seven disappointing seasons.

Seven losing seasons (save their 6-6 finish in 2006).

Seven seasons with only two rivalry wins (they beat Akron 37-15 in 2006 and 28-17 this year).

So in that context, it doesn’t come as a complete surprise that Martin resigned from the job he took in 2004 after moving up from offensive coordinator. The news came a day after the Flashes lost, 38-3, against Western Michigan — the team’s worst loss of its 5-7 season.

But even if in Martin’s tenure the loss column has dwarfed the win column, he’s built up the football team in other areas.

He’s transformed the quarterback position into a more active one. In Martin’s first six seasons, there were about 1,700 more pass yards and 20 more passing touchdowns than in the six years prior.

And three of Martin’s seasons stand in the top five all time for total yards of offense (Josh Cribbs and Julian Edelman are partly to thank).

Martin’s legacy won’t be disgraceful. Far from it.

Rather, it will be another example of a Kent State football program that didn’t work. The Flashes have had one winning season since 1988. They’ve had only eight since Martin was born (1963).

But if coaches are responsible for winning teams, then Kent State football is going in the right direction. Director of Athletics Joel Nielsen has shown his commitment to bringing a winning team to Kent.

Martin couldn’t do it. Who can?

The above editorial is the consensus opinion of the Daily Kent Stater editorial board.