Phil Martelli
Encyclopedia
Phil Martelli is an American
college basketball
coach and current coach of the Saint Joseph's Hawks men's basketball
team. He maintains an impressive resume, having led Saint Joseph's to five NCAA Tournaments and four NITs. He has averaged 20 wins per season in his thirteen years with the Hawks.
for Widener University
. As point guard, he was part of the NCAA Tournament teams in 1974-75 and 1975–76, and set the school's single season and career assist marks.
In his first season as head coach (1995–96) his team reached the final game of the NIT Tournament. In his second year, under the floor generalship of Junior point guard Rashid Bey, and help from Arthur "Yah" Davis and Dmitri Domani, Martelli's Hawks captured the Atlantic 10 crown and made it into the Sweet Sixteen
round of the NCAA tournament
. They would not duplicate that success until landing future Naismith College Player of the Year
Jameer Nelson
and current NBA players Delonte West
and Dwayne Jones
. With Nelson as point guard, Martelli led the 2003-04 Hawks to a 27-0 regular season. The Hawks lost to Xavier
in the Atlantic 10 Tournament, and reached the Elite Eight, ultimately losing to Oklahoma State to finish with a record of 30-2. That year, Martelli was named Naismith College Coach of the Year
. In 2004-05, Martelli led the Hawks back to the final game of the NIT, where they lost to South Carolina
. In 2005-06, the Hawks returned to the NIT, eventually losing to Hofstra University
. In 2008, Martelli led Saint Joseph's to its first NCAA Tournament since 2004 with a team led by Pat Calathes
and Ahmad Nivins
.
Coach Martelli also surpassed Hawk legend Dr. Jack Ramsay
for second among SJU coaches in wins 2008. He is fourth among SJU coaches with a winning percentage of .633. Martelli has won the most postseason games of any Hawk coach and his teams have averaged 23 wins over the course of the last eight seasons.
In 2007, Phil Martelli's first book Don't Call Me Coach: A Lesson Plan For Life was published. Students at SJU often say "In Martelli We Trust" about their beloved basketball coach. Martelli has a weekly show during the basketball season called "Hawk Talk" which discusses the standing of the university and the basketball team.
In October 2008, Martelli signed a contract extension that will keep him at St. Joe's through the 2015-16 season.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
coach and current coach of the Saint Joseph's Hawks men's basketball
Saint Joseph's Hawks men's basketball
The Saint Joseph's Hawks men's basketball team represents Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Its home court is the Hagan Arena. The team's only Final Four appearance in 1961 was removed from the NCAA records due to a gambling scandal. Through...
team. He maintains an impressive resume, having led Saint Joseph's to five NCAA Tournaments and four NITs. He has averaged 20 wins per season in his thirteen years with the Hawks.
Playing career
Martelli was a point guardPoint guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
for Widener University
Widener University
Widener University is a private, coeducational university located in Chester, Pennsylvania.Its main campus sits on 108 acres , just southwest of Philadelphia...
. As point guard, he was part of the NCAA Tournament teams in 1974-75 and 1975–76, and set the school's single season and career assist marks.
Career at Saint Joseph's
Martelli began his career on Hawk Hill with SJU's 1985-86 NCAA Tournament team. In his decade as an assistant, he was part of the Hawks' NIT teams in 1992-93 and 1994-95. After 10 years as an assistant under Jim Boyle and John Griffin, Martelli was named the 14th coach in school history on July 20, 1995, and just the third non-alumnus to coach the school.In his first season as head coach (1995–96) his team reached the final game of the NIT Tournament. In his second year, under the floor generalship of Junior point guard Rashid Bey, and help from Arthur "Yah" Davis and Dmitri Domani, Martelli's Hawks captured the Atlantic 10 crown and made it into the Sweet Sixteen
1997 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1997 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 13, 1997, and ended with the championship game on March 31 in Indianapolis, Indiana...
round of the NCAA tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
. They would not duplicate that success until landing future Naismith College Player of the Year
Naismith College Player of the Year
The Naismith College Player of the Year is an annual basketball award given by the Atlanta Tipoff Club to the top men's and women's collegiate basketball players. It is named in honor of the inventor of basketball , Dr. James Naismith....
Jameer Nelson
Jameer Nelson
Jameer Nelson is an American professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic of the NBA. He played college basketball at Saint Joseph's University and was drafted in the first round of the 2004 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets but was traded to the Orlando Magic, where he has played for his...
and current NBA players Delonte West
Delonte West
Delonte Maurice West is an American professional basketball player who last played with the Boston Celtics of the NBA.-High school career:...
and Dwayne Jones
Dwayne Jones
Dwayne Jones is an American professional basketball player.-College career:Along with senior Jameer Nelson and juniors Delonte West and Pat Carroll, Jones was an integral part of the undefeated Saint Joseph's team during the 2004 regular season. The Hawks earned a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament...
. With Nelson as point guard, Martelli led the 2003-04 Hawks to a 27-0 regular season. The Hawks lost to Xavier
Xavier University (Cincinnati)
Xavier University is a co-educational Jesuit university in the United States located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation and has an undergraduate enrollment of about 4,000 students and graduate enrollment of 2,600 students. Xavier is primarily...
in the Atlantic 10 Tournament, and reached the Elite Eight, ultimately losing to Oklahoma State to finish with a record of 30-2. That year, Martelli was named Naismith College Coach of the Year
Naismith College Coach of the Year
Naismith College Coach of the Year Award is an award given by the Atlanta Tipoff Club to one men's and one women's NCAA Division I collegiate coach each season since 1987...
. In 2004-05, Martelli led the Hawks back to the final game of the NIT, where they lost to South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
. In 2005-06, the Hawks returned to the NIT, eventually losing to Hofstra University
Hofstra University
Hofstra University is a private, nonsectarian institution of higher learning located in the Village of Hempstead, New York, United States, about east of New York City: less than an hour away by train or car...
. In 2008, Martelli led Saint Joseph's to its first NCAA Tournament since 2004 with a team led by Pat Calathes
Pat Calathes
Patrick Sean Calathes is a Greek American professional basketball player...
and Ahmad Nivins
Ahmad Nivins
Ahmad Naadir "Slim" Nivins is an American professional basketball player. A power forward, he was selected by the Dallas Mavericks with the 56th overall pick of the 2009 draft. He was quickly released and is now playing in Europe for Bàsquet Manresa in the Spanish ACB...
.
Coach Martelli also surpassed Hawk legend Dr. Jack Ramsay
Jack Ramsay
Jack T. Ramsay is an American former basketball coach, commonly known as "Dr. Jack" . He is best known for coaching the Portland Trail Blazers to the 1977 NBA Title, and for his broadcasting work with the Indiana Pacers, the Miami Heat, and for ESPN TV and ESPN Radio...
for second among SJU coaches in wins 2008. He is fourth among SJU coaches with a winning percentage of .633. Martelli has won the most postseason games of any Hawk coach and his teams have averaged 23 wins over the course of the last eight seasons.
In 2007, Phil Martelli's first book Don't Call Me Coach: A Lesson Plan For Life was published. Students at SJU often say "In Martelli We Trust" about their beloved basketball coach. Martelli has a weekly show during the basketball season called "Hawk Talk" which discusses the standing of the university and the basketball team.
In October 2008, Martelli signed a contract extension that will keep him at St. Joe's through the 2015-16 season.
Coaching Tree
Numerous assistants of Martelli have gone on to become coaches at other programs.- Matt BradyMatt BradyMatt Brady is an American college basketball coach and the current men's basketball coach at James Madison University. He was introduced at a press conference on March 26, 2008. Brady was formerly the head coach at Marist College, departing with a 73–50 record in four years. He took the Red Foxes...
- Former head coach at Marist CollegeMarist CollegeMarist College is a private liberal arts college on the east bank of the Hudson River near Poughkeepsie, New York. The site was established in 1905 by Marist Brothers, and the college was chartered in 1929...
. Current head coach at James Madison UniversityJames Madison UniversityJames Madison University is a public coeducational research university located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, U.S. Founded in 1908 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg, the university has undergone four name changes before settling with James Madison University... - Monte RossMonte RossMonté Ross is an American college basketball coach and the current head men's basketball coach at the University of Delaware.-References:...
- Head coach at the University of DelawareUniversity of DelawareThe university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development... - Mike Rice Jr.Mike Rice Jr.-References:...
- Former head coach at Robert Morris UniversityRobert Morris UniversityRobert Morris University is a private, coeducational university in suburban Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1921, the school was named for Robert Morris, who signed the Declaration of Independence, and helped finance the ensuing war with the British.-History:Robert Morris...
, current head coach at Rutgers UniversityRutgers UniversityRutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American... - Doug OvertonDoug OvertonDouglas M. Overton is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Detroit Pistons in the 2nd round of the 1991 NBA Draft. A 6'3" point guard from La Salle University, Overton played in 11 NBA seasons for 8 different teams...
- Assistant coach for the New Jersey NetsNew Jersey NetsThe New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
Head coaching record
Career highlights
- Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year (1997, 2001, 2004, 2005)
- Naismith College Coach of the YearNaismith College Coach of the YearNaismith College Coach of the Year Award is an award given by the Atlanta Tipoff Club to one men's and one women's NCAA Division I collegiate coach each season since 1987...
(2004) - Associated Press Coach of the YearAssociated Press College Basketball Coach of the YearThe Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year award was established in 1967 to recognize the best men's college basketball coach of the year, as voted upon by the Associated Press...
(2004) - 2004 Rupp Cup
- 2004 ChevroletChevroletChevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
Coach of the Year - 2004 Henry Iba AwardHenry Iba AwardThe Henry Iba Award was established in 1959 to recognize the best college basketball coach of the year by the United States Basketball Writers Association . Five nominees are presented and the individual with the most votes receives the award, which is presented in conjunction with the Final Four....
(USBWA) - 2004 NABCNational Association of Basketball CoachesThe National Association of Basketball Coaches , headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, is an American organization of college men's basketball coaches...
Co-Coach of the Year - Head coach, Saint Joseph's UniversitySaint Joseph's UniversitySaint Joseph's University is a private, coeducational Roman Catholic Jesuit university located partially in the Wynnefield section of Philadelphia and partially in Lower Merion Township and located in the Pennsylvania Main Line, Pennsylvania, United States.The school was founded in 1851 as Saint...
(1995–present) - Head coach, 2005 USA Basketball Under 21 World Championship Team
- NCAA berths: 1997, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2008