VCU is targeting Bryant coach Phil Martelli Jr. to be the school’s next head coach, with a deal expected to be finalized in the near future, sources told ESPN.

The hire connects one the most famous names in Atlantic 10 history with the next generation, as Martelli Jr.’s father, Phil, has the second-most wins in the Atlantic 10 from his time at Saint Joseph’s. (Only Temple‘s John Chaney has more).

Martelli Jr. led Bryant to the NCAA tournament this year and is 43-25 in two seasons as a head coach. Bryant earned a No. 15 seed in the NCAA tournament this year and lost to No. 2, Michigan State, 87-62.

He replaces Ryan Odom, who left to take the head coaching job at Virginia after leading VCU to the NCAA tournament this year.

Odom continued a string of impressive hires at VCU, which is regarded as one of the elite — and best funded — mid-major jobs in the country. Every VCU coach who has held the job since Jeff Capel took over in 2002 has reached the NCAA tournament.

This will be the fourth hire for athletic director Ed McLaughlin, who has previously brought Will Wade, Mike Rhoades and Odom to VCU. Wade followed Shaka Smart, who led VCU to the 2011 Final Four.

Martelli Jr. worked his way up in coaching by working at Manhattan, Niagara and Delaware. He also worked two seasons as a G League assistant before coming to Bryant as an assistant coach in 2018.

He took over as head coach in 2023 in the wake of the sudden resignation of head coach Jared Grasso that fall. Bryant finished 20-13 in his first season and third in the America East and then finished first in the league this season with a 14-2 conference record and a 23-12 overall record.