Why Saint Joe’s Wishing Phil Martelli a Happy Birthday Is a Massive Deal
You cannot erase Phil Martelli from Saint Joseph's without erasing the proudest era in school history. In the 2003, 04 season, Martelli guided the Hawks to an undefeated 27, 0 regular season, a No. 1 national ranking, and a top seed in the NCAA Tournament. Led by consensus National Player of the Year Jameer Nelson and future NBA first-round pick Delonte West, the Hawks captivated college basketball fans nationwide.
Sellout crowds jammed Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse before it was renovated into Hagan Arena. Sports Illustrated plastered the Hawks on its national cover. That historic run, which pushed within seconds of the Final Four before falling to Oklahoma State in the Elite Eight, brought tens of millions of dollars in earned media value to the small Jesuit university along City Avenue.
Nelson stayed deeply loyal to Martelli throughout his professional career. When Saint Joe’s parted with Martelli in 2019, Nelson publicly voiced his frustration with how the university handled the dismissal. Seeing the athletic department distance itself from the head coach who made that run possible felt like revisionist history. The program's past was suddenly separated from the man who built it.
