Jamion Christian will take the reins at Bryant University, looking to continue their upward trend.
Jamion Christian to Bryant College to Lead Program
Christian will again cross the Atlantic to coach a Division 1 college basketball team. NBC 10 in Providence reports that Bryant University hired Christian to lead their men’s basketball team. The school confirmed this on Wednesday.
It’s a Great Day to be a Bulldog!
Excited to welcome Jamion Christian as our head coach! https://t.co/6hLeoK3pi6 pic.twitter.com/0atHKQppBI
— Bryant Men’s Basketball (@BryantHoops) April 3, 2025
He would replace Phil Martelli, who parlayed a successful stint as Bryant’s head coach into a new job at Virginia Commonwealth. The Bulldogs administration can enjoy a coach with extensive coaching experience at the Division 1 level in their prospective new coach.
Yet Christian does not feel like a retread. Instead, they will bring in a leader who really climbed the ladder, fell off, and hopped right back on to advance his career.
From Mount St. Mary’s to Italy: Christian’s Coaching Journey and Philosophy
After a stellar prep career, the Quinton, VA native chose Mount St. Mary to continue his academic and athletic career. Throughout his four years, Christian played multiple roles on the team. From starter to injured senior, he helped the Mountaineers make incremental strides to improving the program.
After graduation, he accepted assistant jobs in four locations before returning to his alma mater. He led the team to an NCAA First Four berth. Christian parlayed that into a one-year-stint at Siena before taking the helm at George Washington University.
The sojourn in the nation’s capital led to a 29-50 record and a pink slip. Subsequently, the coach found his way to coach Pallacanestro Trieste of the Lega Basket Serie A (Italy).
In describing his approach on this podcast, Christian made his point crystal clear, stating:
“I’m a person who just loves all form of basketball. I love college basketball. I love really great high school basketball. I have a foundation of how I believe to play. I always believe in taking a ton of threes. I believe in certain forms of ball movement that are maybe a little bit unique, but I wanted a chance and a space with our players to make sure that we worked on it in a collaborative way. ”
Big Expectations and New Challenges Await Christian at Bryant
Christian walks into Smithfield with rather large shoes to fill. Martell left Bryant with a regular season and tournament championship title. Moreover, that NCAA Tournament appearance shined a light on Rhode Island University.
Now, Christian will stand there for the raising of the 2024-25 America East Championship banners. The fanbase expects to win convincingly, leaving no doubt as to who the best team in the league is.
When Christian left GWU, the NIL era was still in its infancy. Believe it or not, mid-major schools feel the transfer portal in different ways. First, if a mid-major recruits and develops a player and they succeed, bet on a larger school tempting the player.
Next, more positively, mid-majors also provide an outlet for Division 2/3 and junior college players to get to Division 1. The America East isn’t Italy. Christian needs to expect player movement to the highest degree. Regardless of conference, wins and losses are the greatest in determining success.
A Fresh Start at Bryant, but Big Questions Loom for Christian
Jamion Christian will now call Bryant and the America East Conference home. With his background as a player and coach of a mid-major universities, he can parlay that into success. While the expectation remains, the administration will exercise patience, he needs to win games and get to postseason tournaments. A couple of questions remain.
KEEP READING: Bryant HC Phil Martelli Jr. Tears Up About Family Support After NCAA Tournament Exit
How will he adjust to the modern money aspect of the game? Lastly, will Bryant be a stepping stone to bigger schools, or will he build a strong foundation?
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