There will always be debates about your career and success when you have a successful and influential father. Amidst those controversies, many overlook the hard work an individual puts in to achieve their current position.
This is the story of Phil Martelli Jr., who was recently appointed as the head coach of VCU. Did he get the job because of his father, long-time college coach Phil Martelli Sr.? Is this a case of nepotism? In a recent interview, the new VCU coach squashed the rumors.
Did Nepotism Help Phil Martelli Jr. Get the VCU Job?
After two years of success at mid-major Bryant, Phil Martelli Jr. is headed to Virginia to coach the VCU Rams. Son of longtime Saint Joe’s HC Phil Martelli Sr., Martelli Jr. has proven he can lead his team to success, but many still believe nepotism might be at play.
In a recent interview from the “The Field of 68” channel on YouTube, Martelli Jr. addressed concerns about how he landed the job. He admitted that his father’s support had helped him and contributed to the growth of his career, but he emphasized doing things his own way.
“To be honest with you, like a big part of getting this job was my time at Niagara. You know Ed McLaughlin, our AD here, was also our AD at Niagara. We both kind of grew together in that time.”
“But at the end of it,” he explained, “it was because of that time at Niagara, because of the relationship with Ed, and then being ready to be a head coach when your name is called. Those things all set me up.”
The Martelli family is popular for their significant strides in the college basketball coaching space. Phil Sr., most recently with Michigan in 2023, led Saint Joe’s for 24 years from 1995 to 2019. During his tenure, his teams won four Atlantic-10 (A-10) regular season titles, three A-10 Tournament titles, and seven NCAA Tournament appearances.
Personally, Martelli Sr. also won the AP Coach of the Year, Naismith Coach of the Year, and several other awards in 2004 when his team made the Elite Eight, their best finish since 1961.
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Martelli Jr., follows in his father’s footsteps. Like his father, Martelli Jr. has won his fair share of awards, including the America East Coach of the Year and the NABC Mid-Atlantic District Coach of the Year in 2025.
Now that he has responded to the rumors, focus can return to the job on hand and avoid distractions — reaching the NCAA Tournament’s Round of 32 for the first time since 2011.
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