VCU turns to Bryant's Phil Martelli Jr. to take over as men's basketball coach
VCU turns to Bryant's Phil Martelli Jr. to take over as men's basketball coach
Bryant head coach Phil Martelli Jr. gestures in the first half of a game against Michigan State in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Bryant head coach Phil Martelli, Jr. reacts in the first half against Michigan State in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Bryant head coach Phil Martelli, Jr. reacts in the first half against Michigan State in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Bryant head coach Phil Martelli Jr. gestures in the first half of a game against Michigan State in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Bryant head coach Phil Martelli, Jr. reacts in the first half against Michigan State in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — VCU has hired Bryant's Phil Martelli Jr. as its new men's basketball coach.
The Rams announced the hiring Wednesday, coming less than a week after Ryan Odom left to take over at Virginia. VCU reached the NCAA Tournament but lost in the first round to BYU last week.
The son of the former longtime Saint Joseph's head coach, Martelli had won 43 games in two seasons with the Bulldogs. That included getting Bryant to the NCAAs this year after winning the America East regular-season and tournament titles.
Advertisement
The Bulldogs lost in the first round of the NCAAs to Michigan State in the program's second-ever March Madness bid.
'He has clearly lived his entire life amid college basketball legends but has made his own path and paid his dues through hard work, good character and a devotion to developing young men into the best versions of themselves through sport,' athletic director Ed McLaughlin said in a statement.
Martelli also had stints as an assistant at Delaware and Niagara, as well as working in the NBA G League and spending a year in a support role at Saint Joseph's.
Martelli was a four-year player for the Hawks under his father with NCAA trips in 2001 and 2003.
Advertisement
'I am excited to help carry on the legacy that has been set here and help elevate it to the next level,' Martelli said.
VCU has been a consistent mid-major winner going back to Jeff Capel's tenure in the mid-2000s. That includes 13 bids in the past 18 NCAA Tournaments.
The highlight was a First Four-to-Final Four run in 2011 under Shaka Smart, who is part of a list of coaches — including newly hired Will Wade at N.C. State — who have gone on to bigger jobs based on success at VCU.
___
AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Canadian teen Summer McIntosh shatters third world swim record in five days
FILE - Summer McIntosh of Canada reacts after competing in the Women's 200m Butterfly Heats on day three of the World Short Course Swimming Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos, file) VICTORIA, Canada (AP) — Canadian teen Summer McIntosh has done it again. The 18-year-old made it three world records in less than a week when she broke her own 400-meter individual medley mark on Wednesday night. Advertisement McIntosh won at the Canadian swimming trials in 4 minutes, 23.65 seconds to lower her previous best in one of the sport's toughest events by 0.73 seconds. Her closest rival was 12 seconds behind. 'What a week Victoria! Had so much fun in the pool this week,' McIntosh wrote on Instagram. McIntosh had already broken the world best mark in the 200 individual medley on Monday in 2:05.70, two days after shaving more than a second off the 400 freestyle record, completing the race in 3:54.18. The Toronto native also set new Canadian marks in two other events: The 200 butterfly, where she was less than half a second off a record that has stood since 2009, and the 800 freestyle, where she was also just off Katie Ledecky's world record set last month. Advertisement She is scheduled to compete in those five events at the world aquatics championships in Singapore next month. McIntosh won three gold medals at the Paris Olympics last year, winning her three individual events of the 400 and 200 individual medleys and the 200 butterfly. She also won silver in the 400 free. ___ AP sports:
Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Poland coach resigns after dispute with star striker Robert Lewandowski
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — The coach of Poland's national soccer team announced Thursday has resigned as head coach, days after a spat with star striker Robert Lewandowski. 'I have come to the conclusion that, given the current situation, the best decision for the good of the national team is my resignation from the position of head coach,' Michał Probierz said in a statement published by the Polish Football Association. Probierz stripped Barcelona striker Lewandowski of his position as team captain on the eve of a World Cup qualifier against Finland earlier this week, and named Inter Milan midfielder Piotr Zieliński as the new captain. Lewandowski reacted by saying he would no longer play for the national team as long as Probierz remains head coach. Poland went on to suffer an embarrassing 2-1 defeat to Finland, to put its qualifications hopes into jeopardy. The 36-year-old Lewandowski, who has played a record 158 games for his country and is the leading scorer with 85 goals, is arguably the most outstanding player in the history of Polish soccer. Lewandowski pulled out of last Friday's friendly over Moldova, citing tiredness from a La Liga title-winning season with Barcelona. Probierz, who took over in September 2023 after the disappointing tenure of Fernando Santos, managed to secure qualification for the 2024 European Championship but has since struggled. The Polish Football Association's president, Cezary Kulesza, had summoned Probierz on Wednesday to discuss the matter. 'I give coaches a lot of freedom, but with that comes responsibility. I expect results, first and foremost,' Kulesza said. 'These were difficult days for the fans of the national team.' ___ AP soccer:
San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Poland coach resigns after dispute with star striker Robert Lewandowski
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — The coach of Poland's national soccer team announced Thursday has resigned as head coach, days after a spat with star striker Robert Lewandowski. 'I have come to the conclusion that, given the current situation, the best decision for the good of the national team is my resignation from the position of head coach,' Michał Probierz said in a statement published by the Polish Football Association. Probierz stripped Barcelona striker Lewandowski of his position as team captain on the eve of a World Cup qualifier against Finland earlier this week, and named Inter Milan midfielder Piotr Zieliński as the new captain. Lewandowski reacted by saying he would no longer play for the national team as long as Probierz remains head coach. Poland went on to suffer an embarrassing 2-1 defeat to Finland, to put its qualifications hopes into jeopardy. The 36-year-old Lewandowski, who has played a record 158 games for his country and is the leading scorer with 85 goals, is arguably the most outstanding player in the history of Polish soccer. Lewandowski pulled out of last Friday's friendly over Moldova, citing tiredness from a La Liga title-winning season with Barcelona. Probierz, who took over in September 2023 after the disappointing tenure of Fernando Santos, managed to secure qualification for the 2024 European Championship but has since struggled. 'I give coaches a lot of freedom, but with that comes responsibility. I expect results, first and foremost," Kulesza said. 'These were difficult days for the fans of the national team." ___
