Phil Martell fired at St Joe's after 24 years as head coach

[bac2therac]

https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2...ty-fires-phil-martelli-mens-basketball-coach/

Saint Joseph’s University has fired head men’s basketball coach Phil Martelli after 24 seasons. The university made the announcement on Tuesday morning.

“Today, Saint Joseph’s University announced its decision to make a leadership change in its men’s basketball program. The University will immediately begin a search for a new head coach, with the goal of filling the position in the coming weeks,” the university said in a statement.

Phil Martelli, who was the program’s head coach since 1995, was the National Coach of the Year in 2004 after leading the Hawks to an undefeated regular season and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight.

The Hawks reached the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament but had three straight losing seasons since.

In his time as head coach, Martelli compiled a record of 444-328 and won six regular-season Atlantic 10 conference titles along with three conference tournament championships.

Saint Joe’s will immediately start the search for a new head coach. They hope to have a new coach within the coming weeks.



Comments

 

[bac2therac]

It was time...just two NCAA tourneys in 11 years and 3 straight losing seasons

 

[RUJMM78]

He was a good Atlantic 10 head coach and his son was a assistant coach at Rutgers for a short period of time.Two decades coaching at the same school is rather rare with the pressure on winning.

 

[Plum Street]

Yep, it was time. They were so close to the final 4 with Jameer Nelson . Lost a great elite 8 game to Oklahoma state at the meadowlands . I am sure that loss still hurts them.

 

[bac2therac]

wonder if they gave him a chance to retire rather than be fired after being there so long...he started in the same year that RU departed for the Big East.

His run in 2004 was incredible..had them earn a one seed and finished 30-2 with an elite 8 appearance.

there were dips at times where I think they might have thought of firing him but he usually responded with a ncaa appearance to tame the wolves. I think this time they were not going to wait around and wanted to move on. They will need to go the young energetic guy for this job I think, its a tough sell

 

[Plum Street]

He was a good Atlantic 10 head coach and his son was a assistant coach at Rutgers for a short period of time.Two decades coaching at the same school is rather rare with the pressure on winning.

Yes his son was part of the mike rice staff.

 

[PiscatawayMike]

Quite a coincidence if Temple loses tonight; it will spell the end of two Philly coaching legends (Fran Dunphy and Martelli) on the same day.

 

[Plum Street]

Quite a coincidence if Temple loses tonight; it will spell the end of two Philly coaching legends (Fran Dunphy and Martelli) on the same day.

Funny how life works sometimes .

 

[Rutgers25]

Isn’t his name on the court? Lol

 

[bac2therac]

Quite a coincidence if Temple loses tonight; it will spell the end of two Philly coaching legends (Fran Dunphy and Martelli) on the same day.

they sure are breaking up the Big 5

 

[MADHAT1]

Never thought he'd be fired or accept another program's offer , considered him a lifetime fixture until he decided to retire.

Like bac said : "wonder if they gave him a chance to retire rather than be fired"
That is a great question when it comes to long time HCs like Phil Martelli who are the face of their school's program being fired.
No does Phil look for employment as a HC or decide to accept his fate and move on to something else
Being 64 he might not be ready to and draw interest from a small school looking for HC that will upgrade their profile by hiring a well known name like Phil.

 

[DirtyRU]

Always liked him. Seems like a good coach but even more so a great personality. He often comes on Philly Sports radio as a guest and is always a good listen. Funny thing is I would have pegged him for being Joe's HC "prior" to 1995, because I was a huge GW fan during the Yinka days before going to Rutgers (was a frosh in '95 when we joined the BE)- So I was a GW fan from about 1991-1992 thru 1994 and I could've sworn he was the coach at Joe's then. Weird.

 

[ru66]

remember, he was not interested in the Rutgers job--rumor has it he turned us down after one of our previous searches perhaps when Jordan was hired

 

[Proud NJ Sports Fan]

It's become an irrelevant program in Nova's shadow

 

[Proud NJ Sports Fan]

Yep, it was time. They were so close to the final 4 with Jameer Nelson . Lost a great elite 8 game to Oklahoma state at the meadowlands . I am sure that loss still hurts them.

I remember watching that game at a bar in Carteret

 

[PiscatawayMike]

Yep, it was time. They were so close to the final 4 with Jameer Nelson . Lost a great elite 8 game to Oklahoma state at the meadowlands . I am sure that loss still hurts them.

I was at that game. I remember the block R on the court. RU STHs received excellent seats because we were the host school.

 

[HeavenUniv.]

Agree, that I hope they gave him a chance to retire/resign.

 

[knight82]

He might make a really good color commentator.

 

[bac2therac]

I was at that game. I remember the block R on the court. RU STHs received excellent seats because we were the host school.

yep was there too....great atmosphere..sigh those were the days. Meadowlands had this almost every year and then gone like poof and Pru Center has not stepped up to the plate

 

[Knightmoves]

It was time...just two NCAA tourneys in 11 years and 3 straight losing seasons

If he did that at RU we’d give him a lifetime contract and name the locker room after him.

 

[RUinOhio]

this was my first thought reading the title...forgot he was still there, seeing their lack of success recently, can see why.

wonder if they gave him a chance to retire rather than be fired l

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

From what i recall from the Rice days Martelli's son wasn't very far away from Rice in terms of behavior.

 

[RUPete]

Always liked him. Seems like a good coach but even more so a great personality. He often comes on Philly Sports radio as a guest and is always a good listen. Funny thing is I would have pegged him for being Joe's HC "prior" to 1995, because I was a huge GW fan during the Yinka days before going to Rutgers (was a frosh in '95 when we joined the BE)- So I was a GW fan from about 1991-1992 thru 1994 and I could've sworn he was the coach at Joe's then. Weird.

I know, he seems like was coach forever. I just remember him and Jim Lynum.

 

[HeavenUniv.]

Bac, Don't quote me on this,but I think I read or heard, that the NCAA was giving New Jersey colleges and venues a hard time about hosting national championships due to the long drawn out possibility with the sports betting case. Now that everybody and his brother will eventually have it (like the lottery), I think we will start to see them hosted here again. I would also like to see The Meadowlands opened again and tell Essex County and their politicians to take a hike. The Meadowlands is a place that should be re-opened again despite pressure from Essex County to keep it closed. Plenty of arenas around the country make it with just concerts,ice shows,rodeos,etc. Even with the other arenas in the area, with a ZILLION people around here,they can make a go of it,even if they only use the bottom section. From what I remember,before the first deal was made to close it, they were having country and Hispanic concerts. It is actually still used by bands before they go on tours. They may make videos there, as well.

 

[SHUSource]

I was at that game. I remember the block R on the court. RU STHs received excellent seats because we were the host school.

Kind of a funny thing, because I wouldn't say I'm a collector of this sort of thing, but I have all the placards from the post-game press conference - the ones that sit on the table in front of each player and coach to identify them to the press. I know for sure I have Martelli's, as well as Eddie Sutton and Tony Allen from Oklahoma State. They're not worth a thing, but I still hold on to them.

 

[BigRnj]

From what i recall from the Rice days Martelli's son wasn't very far away from Rice in terms of behavior.[/QUOTE]

He punched his wife in an elevator?
He backed out of an RU commencement speech?

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Mike Rice

 

[bac2therac]

If he did that at RU we’d give him a lifetime contract and name the locker room after him.

Wenzel

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

http://www.espn.com/espn/otl/story/...een-video-pushing-players-using-slurs-resigns

 

[bac2therac]

He was called Baby Rice

Here is my issue. Why were Van Macon and David Cox given passes. Totally absurd and a different standard given to them

 

[bac2therac]

Ooh they were called bitches..heaven to betsy

 

[T2Kplus10]

It was time...just two NCAA tourneys in 11 years and 3 straight losing seasons

Agreed, time for a change, but a run to be proud of for PM.

 

[mikershoein]

Isn’t his name on the court? Lol

no, that Maguire, big donor that started Philadelphia Insurance

 

[Rutgers25]

He was called Baby Rice

Here is my issue. Why were Van Macon and David Cox given passes. Totally absurd and a different standard given to them

No video of them. There was video of Martelli.

 

[bac2therac]

But they were part of coaching staff that enabled the behavior for 3 years..for petes sakes they stayed on as coaches

 

[G- RUnit]

I liked him. I wonder if too old for TV as he was quite funny. Probably would be good.

 

[borochop]

Yep, it was time. They were so close to the final 4 with Jameer Nelson . Lost a great elite 8 game to Oklahoma state at the meadowlands . I am sure that loss still hurts them.

was there for that game. what a great show st joes put on!

 

[knight82]

I liked him. I wonder if too old for TV as he was quite funny. Probably would be good.

I don't think he's too old. If Vitale can still do it..

 

[RUJMM78]

Never thought he'd be fired or accept another program's offer , considered him a lifetime fixture until he decided to retire.

Like bac said : "wonder if they gave him a chance to retire rather than be fired"
That is a great question when it comes to long time HCs like Phil Martelli who are the face of their school's program being fired.
No does Phil look for employment as a HC or decide to accept his fate and move on to something else
Being 64 he might not be ready to and draw interest from a small school looking for HC that will upgrade their profile by hiring a well known name like Phil.

George Washington is a available position.

 

[RU MAN]

Hey guys, correct me if I'm wrong but I remember before Waters was hired one of the job searches included Martinelli, and IIRC he wouldn't even meet with Mulcahy at the time. He had absolutely no desire to be interviewed.