America East Basketball News & Notes: Bryant Looks for a new coach

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While making the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is a big deal, it can lead to changes, especially if you are a mid-major program. Bryant University just made its second appearance in the big dance and will now begin the process of finding a new head coach. That’s because Phil Martelli Jr. has left the program and taken the job at VCU.

Virginia Commonwealth University had a terrific season itself, going 28-7 overall and 15-3 in the Atlantic 10 Conference. They too made the tournament, losing in the first round to BYU in Denver, Colorado. Their head coach, Ryan Odom, left the program after two seasons with the Rams. A national search for the next coach began immediately. Which brings us to Martelli Jr.

Last Wednesday, he became the 14th head coach in VCU Rams history. The press conference was held last Thursday morning. Martelli spent seven years at Bryant, the last two as the head coach. He would lead the team to an overall record of 43-25. The 43 wins are the most in the program’s history for a coach in his first two years with the Bulldogs. During his seven total years with the program, Bryant was 122-92 and 72-43 in America East. During his two years as the head coach, the Bulldogs won 20+ games in both seasons.

This past year, Martelli was named both the America East Coach of the Year and the NABC Mid-Atlantic Coach of the Year. On his way to accepting the job at VCU, Martelli thanked Bryant University President Gittell, Athletic Director Bill Smith, and the Board of Trustees for their belief in him. A national search will now begin for the next coach of the Bryant University Bulldogs.