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Phil Martelli Jr., Head Coach, VCU Men’s Basketball; “A New Era for VCU Rams Men’s Basketball”

Phil Martelli Jr. was named the 14th head coach in VCU Men’s Basketball history on March 26, 2025. Martelli assumed the reigns at VCU after leading Bryant to America East regular season and tournament championships in 2024-25.

He joined Bryant in 2018-19 as an assistant coach and was promoted to associate head coach in 2020.

Prior to Bryant Martelli spent the 2017-18 season at his alma mater, Saint Joseph’s, as director of program administration. Previously 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.

From 2006-11, he was an assistant coach at Niagara, helping the Purple Eagles to a 95-69 record in his five years. He also served in the same position at Manhattan in 2005-06. Martelli began his career in 2003 at the age of 22 with Central Connecticut as the youngest 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 Jimmy Martelli who has returned to VCU as associate head coach in April of this year.

A 2003 alum of Saint Joseph’s with a bachelor’s degree in marketing, Martelli was a four-year player for the Hawks and a member of the teams that made NCAA Tournament appearances in 2001 and 2003.

Martelli and his wife Meghan have three children - a daughter, Marra, and sons Philip and Nathan.