Reaching March Madness has been in the Martelli family business for years, and it is booming at VCU

When Philip Martelli Jr. and Jimmy Martelli told their father they wanted to go into coaching, Phil Sr. gave his blessing, albeit with one very important caveat. “I wasn’t going to pick up the phone,” said the elder Martelli, who won 444 games and made the NCAA Tournament seven times during a massively successful 24-year run at Saint Joseph's in Philadelphia. The two brothers — Philip, 44, is 15 months older — each carved their own distinct paths.

By WILL GRAVES