Phil Martelli

Naismith & AP Basketball Coach of the Year and Philadelphia Native

Phil Martelli is currently the associate head coach for the Michigan Wolverines, and the former head coach of the St. Joseph's University Hawks. He led Saint Joseph's to seven NCAA Tournaments and six NIT appearances in 24 seasons as head coach.

St. Joseph’s University (1985–2019)

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, Martelli was named the 14th coach in school history in 1995.

In his first season as head coach (1995–96) his team reached the final game of the NIT Tournament. In his second year, Martelli's Hawks captured the Atlantic 10 crown and made it into the Sweet Sixteen round of the NCAA tournament.

With Jameer Nelson, (Naismith College Player of the Year) as point guard, and former NBA players Delonte West and Dwayne Jones, Martelli led the 2003–04 Hawks to the greatest season in school history. The Hawks went 27–0 in the regular season. The Hawks reached the Elite Eight, ultimately losing to Oklahoma State to finish with a record of 30–2. This is "officially" the deepest run that St. Joseph's has ever made in the tournament. That year, Martelli was named Naismith College Coach of the Year.

In 2004–05, Martelli won his 235th game on Hawk Hill, passing Hall of Famer Jack Ramsay as the winningest coach in school history. Martelli has won the most postseason games of any Hawk coach and his teams and went on to become the all-time winningest coach in Saint Joseph's history.

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 hosted a weekly show called “Hawk Talk” during the basketball season.

In 2008, Martelli led Saint Joseph's to its first NCAA Tournament since 2004 and returned to the Tournament again in 2014, after winning their second Atlantic 10 Championship under Martelli.

Michigan (2019–present)

Martelli accepted a position in June 2019 as the associate head basketball coach at the University of Michigan.

Martelli is married to the former Judy Marra, who played on two national championship basketball teams at Immaculata College. In 2014, Marra's Immaculata teams were inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Martelli’s son, Phil Jr., has served as the head coach of the Bryant University men's basketball team since November 15, 2023.

Martelli was a point guard for Widener University. As point guard, he was part of the NCAA Division III tournament teams in 1974-75 and 1975–76 and set the school's single season and career assist marks.

Career highlights

• Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year (1997, 2001, 2004, 2005)

• Naismith College Coach of the Year (2004)

• Associated Press Coach of the Year (2004)

• 2004 Adolph Rupp Cup

• 2004 Chevrolet Coach of the Year