VCU crammed its teaching emptiness 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 Match this season. Bryant, a No. 15 seed, misplaced 87-62 to No. 2 seed Michigan State within the first spherical.
Martelli replaces Ryan Odom, who departed to take the Virginia job after VCU’s NCAA Match look. The Eleventh-seeded Rams (28-7) misplaced to sixth-seeded BYU 80-71 within the first spherical.
Martelli, 43, mentioned he needs to construct on the success.
“VCU has lengthy been a dream job for me due to the excessive requirements of excellence and nationwide model,” Martelli mentioned. “I’m excited to assist keep it up the legacy that has been set right here and assist elevate it to the subsequent stage.”
Martelli is the son of Phil Martelli, who made seven NCAA Match appearances in his 24-season stint at St. Joseph’s.
VCU athletic director Ed McLaughlin mentioned Martelli is an efficient match for VCU.
“Phil has confirmed himself as a winner all through his profession,” McLaughlin mentioned. “He helped engineer a historic turnaround at Bryant seven years in the past and led this system to unprecedented success the previous two seasons as head coach. He has clearly lived his complete life amid school basketball legends however has made his personal path and paid his dues by arduous work, good character and a devotion to growing younger males into one of the best variations of themselves by sport.”
–Area Degree Media
