VCU is set to hire Bryant head coach Phil Martelli Jr. as its next head coach, with a deal expected to be finalized soon, according to multiples reports, including one from ESPN.

This hire bridges generations of Atlantic 10 basketball, as Phil Martelli Jr. follows in the footsteps of his father, Phil Martelli Sr., who ranks second all-time in conference wins from his tenure at Saint Joseph’s. In just two seasons at Bryant, Martelli Jr. has made a significant impact, guiding the program to an NCAA tournament appearance this year and posting a 43-25 overall record.

Martelli takes over at VCU following the departure of Ryan Odom, who left to become Virginia’s head coach after leading the Rams to the NCAA tournament last season. VCU has built a reputation for sustained success, with every head coach since 2002 securing an NCAA tournament berth. Athletic director Ed McLaughlin continues that tradition with his fourth coaching hire, having previously brought in Will Wade, Mike Rhoades, and Odom. Martelli, who gained experience at Manhattan, Niagara, and Delaware before joining Bryant in 2018, took over the program in 2023 and quickly elevated it into a conference contender.