If there was any doubt about VCU's commitment to Phil Martelli Jr., VCU AD Ed McLaughlin erased it Monday.
VCU Athletics announced that Martelli has agreed to a contract extension through the 2031-32 season, adding two years to the deal he signed when he arrived last March. The move comes at the perfect time - fresh off one of the most memorable seasons in recent Rams history and just days after a first-round NCAA Tournament win that had Black & Gold fans losing their minds.
Those 28 wins are tied for second-most in program history and tied for the most ever by a first-year Rams head coach. Not bad for a guy just getting started.
McLaughlin wasn't subtle about why he moved quickly to lock Martelli up. "He made history in his first season by winning the Atlantic 10 Championship and an NCAA Tournament game and continued the standard of excellence that we have created and come to expect," McLaughlin said, also pointing to VCU's three A-10 championships in the last four years and 12 NCAA Tournament appearances in the last 15 as the standard Martelli is being asked to uphold and build upon.
VCU isn't interested in letting a hot young coach hit the open market.
Martelli sounded genuinely excited about the future, thanking Dr. Rao and McLaughlin for their support and promising to keep building on the program's legacy. McLaughlin noted that he and Martelli plan to sit down this week for their post-season debrief to map out offseason priorities - with a focus on roster retention and infrastructure.
With the transfer portal in full swing and the offseason just getting started, keeping Martelli locked in long-term sends a clear message to recruits and current players alike: the vision here is stable, the commitment is real, and VCU isn't going anywhere.
Keep tabs on roster movement over the coming weeks by following the roster thread here.
VCU Athletics announced that Martelli has agreed to a contract extension through the 2031-32 season, adding two years to the deal he signed when he arrived last March. The move comes at the perfect time - fresh off one of the most memorable seasons in recent Rams history and just days after a first-round NCAA Tournament win that had Black & Gold fans losing their minds.
A First Year for the Record Books
Let's be honest: nobody could have scripted a better debut. Martelli guided VCU to a 28-8 record, a share of the Atlantic 10 regular season title, and the A-10 Tournament championship. Then, on Thursday, he did something no VCU coach had done since 2016 - win a March Madness game, taking down North Carolina 82-78 in overtime to send Rams fans everywhere into a frenzy.Those 28 wins are tied for second-most in program history and tied for the most ever by a first-year Rams head coach. Not bad for a guy just getting started.
McLaughlin wasn't subtle about why he moved quickly to lock Martelli up. "He made history in his first season by winning the Atlantic 10 Championship and an NCAA Tournament game and continued the standard of excellence that we have created and come to expect," McLaughlin said, also pointing to VCU's three A-10 championships in the last four years and 12 NCAA Tournament appearances in the last 15 as the standard Martelli is being asked to uphold and build upon.
VCU isn't interested in letting a hot young coach hit the open market.
What's Next
Martelli sounded genuinely excited about the future, thanking Dr. Rao and McLaughlin for their support and promising to keep building on the program's legacy. McLaughlin noted that he and Martelli plan to sit down this week for their post-season debrief to map out offseason priorities - with a focus on roster retention and infrastructure.
With the transfer portal in full swing and the offseason just getting started, keeping Martelli locked in long-term sends a clear message to recruits and current players alike: the vision here is stable, the commitment is real, and VCU isn't going anywhere.
Keep tabs on roster movement over the coming weeks by following the roster thread here.
