One of the rising young stars in college basketball,
Phil Martelli Jr. was named the 14
th head coach in VCU Men’s Basketball history on March 26, 2025.
He did not waste time getting to work. In fact, in less than a calendar year, Martelli’s vaulted VCU back onto the national stage.
In his first season as head coach, Martelli led VCU to a 28-8 record, the second-most victories in program history, a share of the Atlantic 10 Conference regular season title, and the league’s tournament championship – the Black and Gold’s third in four years. Martelli’s Rams capped the 2025-26 season with an 82-78 overtime win over blue blood North Carolina in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, VCU’s first NCAA triumph in a decade.
Known for his aggressive, up-tempo style of play Martelli’s 2025-26 VCU squad averaged 80.8 points per game, the program’s highest in 50 years. Under his tutelage, a number of players blossomed, including All-Atlantic 10 Conference First Team selections Lazar Djokovic and Terrence Hill Jr., as well as All-Defensive Team pick Brandon Jennings.
Martelli assumed the reigns at VCU after leading Bryant to America East regular season and tournament championships in 2024-25, as well as just the Bulldogs’ second NCAA Tournament appearance since the program transitioned to Division I in 2008-09. Bryant sprinted through the America East Conference with a 14-2 mark in 2024-25 and finished 23-12 overall, its second straight 20-win campaign under Martelli. For his efforts, Martelli was named 2025 America East Conference and NABC Mid-Atlantic Coach of the Year, while three Bulldogs were named All-Conference, including Player of the Year Earl Timberlake. Martelli was 43-25 overall in two seasons as Bryant head coach, including 25-7 in America East play.
Martelli joined Bryant in 2018-19 as an assistant coach and was promoted to associate head coach in 2020. He was on the sidelines in 2021-22 when the Bulldogs captured the Northeast Conference regular season and tournament championships, as well as the school’s first Division I NCAA Tournament berth.
His Bryant teams were also known for their dynamic play. In Martelli’s first two seasons as head coach, the Bulldogs ranked third and sixth, respectively, in the country in adjusted tempo. In 2024-25, Bryant ranked 21
st nationally in scoring offense at 81.8 points per game.
Martelli arrived in Smithfield after spending the 2017-18 season at his alma mater, Saint Joseph’s, as the Hawks’ director of program administration. His stint in Philadelphia followed a year in the NBA G-League with the Delaware 87ers (now Delaware Blue Coats) and 13 seasons as a Division I assistant coach.
Prior to his year with the G-League affiliate in Delaware, Martelli coached for five seasons on the staff at the University of Delaware, where he helped the Blue Hens to an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2014. The Blue Hens set a program-best mark for conference wins over a five-year stretch (55) and placed eight players on All-CAA teams, along with two all-rookie, two all-defensive and four all-academic team honorees. Seven Blue Hens saw time professionally from the teams Martelli coached at Delaware.
From 2006-11, Martelli was an assistant coach at Niagara, helping the Purple Eagles to a 95-69 record in his five years, including the 2007 MAAC Tournament title and a victory in the NCAA Tournament. He also served in the same position at Manhattan in 2005-06.
Martelli began his career in 2003 at Central Connecticut as the youngest (22) full-time assistant coach in Division I at that time. He is the son of former longtime Saint Joseph’s Head Coach Phil Martelli and the brother of former VCU Director of Operations Jimmy Martelli.
A 2003 alum of Saint Joseph’s, Martelli was a four-year player for the Hawks and a member of the teams that made NCAA Tournament appearances in 2001 and 2003. A team co-captain in 2002-03 with Jameer Nelson, he received his bachelor's degree from Saint Joseph’s in marketing.
Martelli and his wife Meghan have three children - a daughter, Marra, and sons Philip and Nathan.
THE PHIL MARTELLI JR. FILE
| 2025- |
VCU - Head Coach (28-8) |
| 2023-25 |
Bryant - Head Coach (43-25) |
| 2020-23 |
Bryant - Associate Head Coach |
| 2018-20 |
Bryant - Assistant Coach |
| 2017-18 |
Saint Joseph's - Director of Program Administration |
| 2016-17 |
Delaware 87ers - Assistant Coach |
| 2011-16 |
Delaware - Assistant Coach |
| 2006-11 |
Niagara - Assistant Coach |
| 2005-06 |
Manhattan - Assistant Coach |
| 2003-05 |
Central Connecticut - Assistant Coach |
Postseason Appearances
NCAA Tournament (5): VCU - 2026; Bryant - 2022, 2025; Delaware - 2014, Niagara - 2007
NIT (2): Niagara - 2009, Manhattan - 2006
CBI (2): Bryant - 2021, Delaware - 2012
Coach of the Year Honors
2025 America East Coach of the Year, 2025 NABC Mid-Atlantic District Coach of the Year
