Saint Joseph's Inducts Phil Martelli to Hall of Fame

The legendary coach is the sole member of the university's 2027 Athletic Hall of Fame class.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Awards

Expressive sports illustration of a basketball coach silhouette in crimson and gray, evoking the legacy of Phil Martelli. — Saint Joseph's University announced that former head coach Phil Martelli will be the sole inductee into its Athletic Hall of Fame for 2027. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Saint Joseph's University announced that former head coach Phil Martelli will be inducted into its Athletic Hall of Fame. He is set to be honored as the lone inductee in the Class of 2027.

Why it matters

Martelli's selection recognizes his profound impact on the basketball program during his 24-season tenure at Saint Joseph's. His career defines an era of growth and competitive excellence for the Hawks.

Phil Martelli finished his tenure with 444 wins and 328 losses over 24 seasons. He also secured four Atlantic 10 coach of the year awards and three Big 5 coach of the year awards.

The players

Phil Martelli

He served as the head coach for the Saint Joseph's Hawks for 24 seasons before retiring in 2019.

Saint Joseph's University

This educational institution is home to the Hawks basketball program located at Hawk Hill.

The details

Martelli retired from collegiate coaching in 2019 after a storied career that included leading the 2003-04 team to a 27-0 regular season record and an Elite Eight appearance. He earned consensus national coach of the year honors in 2004 for his leadership during that undefeated run.

The 2003-04 basketball team achieved a 27-0 regular season record.
Martelli earned consensus national coach of the year honors in 2004.
The American Cancer Society recognized Martelli with a Circle of Honor Award in 2017.
Phil Martelli retired from collegiate coaching in 2019.
The university will hold the Hall of Fame induction ceremony in late 2026.

Culture Shift

The recognition of Martelli highlights the enduring legacy of the 2003-04 Saint Joseph's perfect regular season as the defining achievement in program history. This induction cements a specific era of collegiate basketball dominance within the cultural identity of Philadelphia athletics.

Local supporters of Saint Joseph's basketball can anticipate the university honoring their former coach at an upcoming campus ceremony in late 2026. This event celebrates a major chapter in local sports history and highlights the university's commitment to its athletic heritage.

The takeaway

Honoring coaches like Martelli reinforces the historical standard of excellence for university athletic programs. Fans can view this induction as a tribute to one of the most successful coaching tenures in the history of Philadelphia basketball.