Phil Martelli Jr. has been named the 14th head coach in VCU Men’s Basketball history, VCU Vice President and Director of Athletics Ed McLaughlin announced Wednesday. He will be formally introduced at a press conference at the Stuart C. Siegel Center on Thursday, March 27 at 11:30 a.m. The press conference is open to the public.
“We are thrilled to have Phil Martelli, Jr., as our new head men’s basketball coach. Phil has proven himself as a winner throughout his career. 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. There’s a reason he’s served on the staffs of multiple championship programs. I’m excited to have Phil, Meghan and the kids become part of the Ram Nation family,” said McLaughlin.
Martelli assumes 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 this season 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. Martelli was 43-25 overall in two seasons as Bryant head coach, including 25-7 in America East play.
“Thank you to Dr. Michael Rao, Ed McLaughlin, and the entire VCU Community for welcoming me and my family. VCU has long been a dream job for me because of the high standards of excellence and national brand. I am excited to help carry on the legacy that has been set here and help elevate it to the next level,” Martelli said.
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 known for their dynamic, up-tempo style of 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 21st 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 then Delaware 87ers and 13 seasons as a Division I assistant coach.
Previously, Martelli coached for five seasons 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, and seven Delaware players later signed professional contracts.
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.
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. 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.
Martelli and his wife Meghan have three children – a daughter, Marra, and sons Philip and Nathan.
OFFICIAL: VCU hires Phil Martelli, Jr. as new Head Basketball Coach
