Phil Martelli, Jr. Named University of Delaware Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach
May 17, 2011
Photo Courtesy of Niagara Athletics
NEWARK, Del. -- University of Delaware men’s basketball head coach Monté Ross has announced that former Niagara University assistant Phil Martelli, Jr. has joined the Blue Hen staff as an assistant coach.
Martelli, who spent the last five seasons at Niagara, replaces former UD assistant coach R.C. Kehoe, who last month accepted the head position at Holy Family University.
Martelli helped the Purple Eagles to a 95-69 record during his five-year tenure at Niagara, guiding the squad to an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2006-07 and a National Invitation Tournament berth in 2008-09 when Niagara finished with a 26-9 mark.
Martelli’s duties at Niagara included working with the team’s perimeter players, recruiting, scouting, team travel and film exchange. He also helped mentor Purple Eagles point guard Anthony Nelson, a second team All-MAAC selection this season who led the nation with 3.4 steals per game.
Prior to arriving at Niagara Martelli spent one season at Manhattan College where he was responsible for film breakdown, recruiting, on-court coaching, scouting and player development.
Martelli, 29, broke into the coaching ranks in 2003-04 as a graduate assistant coach at Central Connecticut State, and was promoted to assistant coach at CCSU during the following season.
“We’ve been able to hire one of the rising stars in the business,” said Ross, who will begin his sixth season at the helm of the Blue Hens in the 2011-12 season. “We are very happy to add Phil to our staff, and he complements our staff very well. Phil is a good person as well as a good coach.”
Martelli was a four-year member of the basketball team at Saint Joseph’s University from 2000-03 under his father, head coach Phil Martelli, as well as Ross, who was a Hawks assistant at the time. Martelli, who graduated from SJU in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing, appeared in 35 career games for Saint Joseph’s, helping the Hawks to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances and three regular season Atlantic 10 titles.
“I am thrilled to be here at Delaware, and am really excited to be working with the Blue Hen staff and program,” Martelli said.
