Latest news with #Martelli
Fox Sports
27-03-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
VCU introduces coach Phil Martelli Jr., who wants to 'make memories' in the NCAA Tournament
Associated Press RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Since 2002, VCU has had to hire a basketball coach seven times. The last five have all led the Rams to the NCAA Tournament. So, as he spoke to the media, boosters and fans on Thursday during his introductory press conference, Phil Martelli Jr. knew what kind of expectations he would be taking on as the latest coach in that line. 'It's a national brand,' Martelli said. 'It's a place where you can achieve true excellence. Win championships. Make memories playing deep in the NCAA Tournament. It's VCU.' The Rams introduced Martelli, the son of a longtime St. Joseph's coach, as the latest in what has been an impressive string of successful hires by athletic director Ed McLaughlin. McLaughlin took over his position in 2012 and, three years later, replaced Shaka Smart with Will Wade, then Wade with Mike Rhoades and then Rhoades with Ryan Odom. Before that, Jeff Capel and Anthony Grant led the Rams. So when Odom, who guided VCU to its seventh Atlantic 10 championship in the last 21 years and 13th NCAA appearance in that stretch, left to take over at Virginia, the pressure was, once again, on McLaughlin. This time he reached back into his past. McLaughlin worked at Niagara when Martelli was an assistant coach there from 2006-2011. McLaughlin said Martelli's leadership and relationship-building skills stood out even then. That's why McLaughlin tapped Martelli — who went 43-25 in two seasons at Bryant, leading them to the America East championship and the NCAA Tournament this month — as the next in the Rams' line of big whistles. At VCU, Martelli will enjoy a bigger budget, more NIL funding and a passionate fan base, some of whom showed up Thursday morning to hear their new leader's first words as Rams coach. So, what has made so many VCU hires successful? Is it the coach or the strength of the program they take over? McLaughlin said it has to be both. 'When you match a really, really good coach with an incubator for success like we have here, that's what makes terrific hires,' he said. ' It's not me being some type of wizard to do this stuff. That's not what it is. We've put the infrastructure in place to make that happen.' Continuing VCU's history of success doesn't come without work, McLaughlin and Martelli said, and that shouldn't be a problem for Martelli. Just as VCU wasn't born a national brand, Martelli has had to grind to reach where he is. With his family, including his father, sitting in the front row, to his left, and many of the current players to his right, Martelli talked about the struggles of his 22 years in coaching that brought him to that stage. Afterward, his father recalled his son's very first job, as a graduate assistant at Central Connecticut State in 2003. Martelli Jr. was sleeping on a screened-in porch in a small house he rented along with a graduate assistant from the school's football team and one from its strength and conditioning program. 'It's hard when your children call you and they say, 'We're a little behind on our bills,'' Martelli Sr. said Thursday. 'You know no one's a little bit behind. Whenever anybody would ask, you're a lot behind.' Those struggles made Thursday an even more special moment for a proud dad who won 444 games and made seven NCAA Tournament appearances in 33 years at St. Joe's. 'This is not something anybody gave him,' Martelli Sr. said. 'He earned this opportunity.' ___ AP March Madness bracket: and coverage: Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. recommended in this topic
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
VCU introduces coach Phil Martelli Jr., who wants to 'make memories' in the NCAA Tournament
VCU introduces coach Phil Martelli Jr., who wants to 'make memories' in the NCAA Tournament 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) RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Since 2002, VCU has had to hire a basketball coach seven times. The last five have all led the Rams to the NCAA Tournament. So, as he spoke to the media, boosters and fans on Thursday during his introductory press conference, Phil Martelli Jr. knew what kind of expectations he would be taking on as the latest coach in that line. 'It's a national brand,' Martelli said. 'It's a place where you can achieve true excellence. Win championships. Make memories playing deep in the NCAA Tournament. It's VCU.' Advertisement The Rams introduced Martelli, the son of a longtime St. Joseph's coach, as the latest in what has been an impressive string of successful hires by athletic director Ed McLaughlin. McLaughlin took over his position in 2012 and, three years later, replaced Shaka Smart with Will Wade, then Wade with Mike Rhoades and then Rhoades with Ryan Odom. Before that, Jeff Capel and Anthony Grant led the Rams. So when Odom, who guided VCU to its seventh Atlantic 10 championship in the last 21 years and 13th NCAA appearance in that stretch, left to take over at Virginia, the pressure was, once again, on McLaughlin. This time he reached back into his past. McLaughlin worked at Niagara when Martelli was an assistant coach there from 2006-2011. McLaughlin said Martelli's leadership and relationship-building skills stood out even then. Advertisement That's why McLaughlin tapped Martelli — who went 43-25 in two seasons at Bryant, leading them to the America East championship and the NCAA Tournament this month — as the next in the Rams' line of big whistles. At VCU, Martelli will enjoy a bigger budget, more NIL funding and a passionate fan base, some of whom showed up Thursday morning to hear their new leader's first words as Rams coach. So, what has made so many VCU hires successful? Is it the coach or the strength of the program they take over? McLaughlin said it has to be both. 'When you match a really, really good coach with an incubator for success like we have here, that's what makes terrific hires,' he said. ' It's not me being some type of wizard to do this stuff. That's not what it is. We've put the infrastructure in place to make that happen.' Advertisement Continuing VCU's history of success doesn't come without work, McLaughlin and Martelli said, and that shouldn't be a problem for Martelli. Just as VCU wasn't born a national brand, Martelli has had to grind to reach where he is. With his family, including his father, sitting in the front row, to his left, and many of the current players to his right, Martelli talked about the struggles of his 22 years in coaching that brought him to that stage. Afterward, his father recalled his son's very first job, as a graduate assistant at Central Connecticut State in 2003. Martelli Jr. was sleeping on a screened-in porch in a small house he rented along with a graduate assistant from the school's football team and one from its strength and conditioning program. Advertisement 'It's hard when your children call you and they say, 'We're a little behind on our bills,'' Martelli Sr. said Thursday. 'You know no one's a little bit behind. Whenever anybody would ask, you're a lot behind.' Those struggles made Thursday an even more special moment for a proud dad who won 444 games and made seven NCAA Tournament appearances in 33 years at St. Joe's. 'This is not something anybody gave him,' Martelli Sr. said. 'He earned this opportunity.' ___ AP March Madness bracket: and coverage: Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here.
Associated Press
27-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
VCU introduces coach Phil Martelli Jr., who wants to ‘make memories' in the NCAA Tournament
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Since 2002, VCU has had to hire a basketball coach seven times. The last five have all led the Rams to the NCAA Tournament. So, as he spoke to the media, boosters and fans on Thursday during his introductory press conference, Phil Martelli Jr. knew what kind of expectations he would be taking on as the latest coach in that line. 'It's a national brand,' Martelli said. 'It's a place where you can achieve true excellence. Win championships. Make memories playing deep in the NCAA Tournament. It's VCU.' The Rams introduced Martelli, the son of a longtime St. Joseph's coach, as the latest in what has been an impressive string of successful hires by athletic director Ed McLaughlin. McLaughlin took over his position in 2012 and, three years later, replaced Shaka Smart with Will Wade, then Wade with Mike Rhoades and then Rhoades with Ryan Odom. Before that, Jeff Capel and Anthony Grant led the Rams. So when Odom, who guided VCU to its seventh Atlantic 10 championship in the last 21 years and 13th NCAA appearance in that stretch, left to take over at Virginia, the pressure was, once again, on McLaughlin. This time he reached back into his past. McLaughlin worked at Niagara when Martelli was an assistant coach there from 2006-2011. McLaughlin said Martelli's leadership and relationship-building skills stood out even then. That's why McLaughlin tapped Martelli — who went 43-25 in two seasons at Bryant, leading them to the America East championship and the NCAA Tournament this month — as the next in the Rams' line of big whistles. At VCU, Martelli will enjoy a bigger budget, more NIL funding and a passionate fan base, some of whom showed up Thursday morning to hear their new leader's first words as Rams coach. So, what has made so many VCU hires successful? Is it the coach or the strength of the program they take over? McLaughlin said it has to be both. 'When you match a really, really good coach with an incubator for success like we have here, that's what makes terrific hires,' he said. ' It's not me being some type of wizard to do this stuff. That's not what it is. We've put the infrastructure in place to make that happen.' Continuing VCU's history of success doesn't come without work, McLaughlin and Martelli said, and that shouldn't be a problem for Martelli. Just as VCU wasn't born a national brand, Martelli has had to grind to reach where he is. With his family, including his father, sitting in the front row, to his left, and many of the current players to his right, Martelli talked about the struggles of his 22 years in coaching that brought him to that stage. Afterward, his father recalled his son's very first job, as a graduate assistant at Central Connecticut State in 2003. Martelli Jr. was sleeping on a screened-in porch in a small house he rented along with a graduate assistant from the school's football team and one from its strength and conditioning program. 'It's hard when your children call you and they say, 'We're a little behind on our bills,'' Martelli Sr. said Thursday. 'You know no one's a little bit behind. Whenever anybody would ask, you're a lot behind.' Those struggles made Thursday an even more special moment for a proud dad who won 444 games and made seven NCAA Tournament appearances in 33 years at St. Joe's. 'This is not something anybody gave him,' Martelli Sr. said. 'He earned this opportunity.'
Reuters
26-03-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
VCU hires Phil Martelli Jr. as new head coach
March 26 - VCU filled its coaching vacancy with the hiring of Bryant coach Phil Martelli Jr. on Wednesday. Martelli went 43-25 in two seasons at Bryant and guided the Bulldogs into the NCAA Tournament this season. Bryant, a No. 15 seed, lost 87-62 to No. 2 seed Michigan State in the first round. Martelli replaces Ryan Odom, who departed to take the Virginia job after VCU's NCAA Tournament appearance. The 11th-seeded Rams (28-7) lost to sixth-seeded BYU 80-71 in the first round. Martelli, 43, said he wants to build on the success. "VCU has long been a dream job for me because of the high standards of excellence and national brand," Martelli said. "I am excited to help carry on the legacy that has been set here and help elevate it to the next level." Martelli is the son of Phil Martelli, who made seven NCAA Tournament appearances in his 24-season stint at St. Joseph's. VCU athletic director Ed McLaughlin said Martelli is a good fit for VCU. "Phil has proven himself as a winner throughout his career," McLaughlin said. "He helped engineer a historic turnaround at Bryant seven years ago and led the program to unprecedented success the past two seasons as head coach. 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."
Boston Globe
26-03-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
After leading Bryant to NCAA Tournament, Phil Martelli Jr. becomes coach at VCU
Related : The Bulldogs '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,' VCU 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. Advertisement Martelli was a four-year player for the Hawks under his father with NCAA trips in 2001 and 2003. '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.
