Coach Phil Martelli to visit
American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Pottstown

2004 Consensus National Coach of the Year
Four-time Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year (2005, 2004, 2001, 1997)
Head Coach, 2005 USA Basketball Under 21 World Championship Team

Click here for Phil Martelli's complete bio in PDF format.

On May 30, 2009, renowned basketball coach Phil Martelli will be a guest speaker at the opening ceremony beginning at 10 am for the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Pottstown, at the Pottsgrove High School track on Kaufman Rd, Pottstown, PA, 19464. Coach Martelli will also participate in the survivor reception and be available for interviews. The community is invited to attend this opening celebration. Cancer survivors are encouraged to register for the opening lap through the event website: http://www.pottstownrelayforlife.com/survivor.html or by calling the Relay hotline: 610-327-6900.

One of the more colorful coaches in the nation, Martelli's personality, wit and accessibility have always made him a media favorite. Martelli is as accommodating as ever and his Saint Joseph's story has been well documented by the Philadelphia press and told by countless media outlets nationwide. But, Martelli is not only passionate for coaching, but also for his work in the community. He is one of the leaders of the Philadelphia chapter of Coaches vs. Cancer, as the coaches from the city's six Division I schools strive to raise awareness and funding to defeat the disease, and have become one of the top fund-raising groups in the country. Since 1996, Coaches vs. Cancer of Philadelphia has raised over $1.5 million for the American Cancer Society's programs of research, patient services, education, and advocacy. The Coaches have set an ambitious goal of raising at least $1 million each year and are confident with the help of the local community, their goal to eradicate this disease will one day be accomplished.

To further demonstrate their commitment to the cause, the Philadelphia Coaches announced in Spring 2007 their plan to donate $1 million of their proceeds over the next five years towards the new AstraZeneca Hope Lodge of the American Cancer Society in the Philadelphia area. Located on land contributed by Fox Chase Cancer Center, the AstraZeneca Hope Lodge provides a quiet, convenient temporary residence for those patients receiving outpatient treatment who live more than one hour away from their treatment center. The Lodge offers kitchens, free laundry facilities, and free transportation to treatment centers. The Hope Lodge held is grand opening last week and local Relay For Life volunteers Diane Nester, Jo Ann McKiernan, Lesley Duall and Sharon Basile attended the celebration. The Lodge began receiving guests this week.*

Coaches vs. Cancer of Philadelphia is part of the National Coaches vs. Cancer program created in 1993 by the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). The program exists to leverage the strength, community leadership and celebrity of our country’s basketball coaches to fight cancer. Since its inception, the Coaches vs. Cancer program has raised more than $30 million nationwide to benefit the American Cancer Society’s research, advocacy, education, and patient services programs.

Martelli has received numerous honors for his community work, and was named the 2004 "Citizen of the Year" by the March of Dimes, inducted into the CYO Hall of Fame for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and honored by the National Adoption Center. His alma mater, Widener University, bestowed upon him an honorary doctorate in public service in May 2004, while he received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Cabrini College in May 2006.

Martelli and his wife Judy, a former basketball player with the legendary Immaculata College teams, have three children. Phil, Jr., a 2003 SJU graduate, is an assistant basketball coach at Niagara University, Jimmy is an assistant coach at Robert Morris University, and Elizabeth is a senior attending Saint Joseph's.

Some of his accomplishments are:

Winner of the Henry Iba Coach of the Year award for the 2003-04' Coached St. Joes to a perfect 27-0 regular season mark 2003-04' Hawks led the nation in field goal percentage defense (.372) 2003-04' Hawks ranked seventh in scoring defense (59.5 ppg.) 2003-04' Coached the Hawks to four NCAA tournaments including an "Elite Eight" appearance Coached the Hawks to two NIT appearances St. Joe's smallest school in the last 40 years to be ranked Number 1 nationally Twice named Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year Twice named Eastern Basketball Coach of the Year Inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2000 Three consecutive Atlantic-10 Conference regular season titles Two at-large bids to the NCAA Tournament in three seasons ECAC Team of the Year - 1996-97' Philadelphia Big 5 Team of the Year - 1996-97' Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year by the USBWA - 1996-97' District Coach of the Year by the USBWA, NABC, Eastern Basketball, The Basketball Times - 1996-97' Named Eastern College Coach of the Year by B'nai B'rith Sports Lodge 1996-97' Named Co-Philadelphia Big 5 Coach of the Year 1996-97' Named Philadelphia Big 5 Coach of the Year 1995-96' Coached Bishop Kenrick High to six straight school record playoff appearances Named prep Coach of the Year by both of Philadelphia's major dailies Degree from Widener University

*To stay at the Hope Lodge, you must be referred by your Philadelphia area physician or health care professional. The Hope Lodge staff coordinates with health care professionals to put names on a waiting list. It is advisable to initiate the referral process well in advance of the first date of treatment, as patients are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.