The Rams introduced Martelli, the son of a longtime St. Joseph’s coach, as the latest in what has been an impressive string of successful hires by athletic director Ed McLaughlin. McLaughlin took over his position in 2012 and, three years later, replaced Shaka Smart with Will Wade, then Wade with Mike Rhoades and then Rhoades with Ryan Odom.

The VCU Rams have entered a new era of basketball as Phil Martelli Jr. was introduced as the 14th head coach in program history on Thursday at the Siegel Center.