The Hawk will never die, but the head basketball coaching position is now vacant.

Saint Joe’s is moving on from Phil Martelli after 24 seasons, the rumors confirmed by a Tuesday morning press release from Athletic Director Jill Bodensteiner:

Bodensteiner is “new” to St. Joe’s, having been in place for nine months now. When she was hired, some assumed Martelli’s job might be under more scrutiny than it had been under Don DiJulia, who previously held the role for something like 750 years (it was actually 35).

More importantly, Martelli had failed to make the NCAA tournament three seasons in a row, following up a 28-8 season in 2015-2016 with records of 11-20, 16-16, and 14-19 this year. St. Joe’s finished in a tie for tenth place in the Atlantic 10.

By far, Martelli’s best accomplishment was his 30-2 record in 2004, when the #1 seeded Hawks, led by Jameer Nelson and Delonte West, lost by two-points to Oklahoma State in the Elite 8.

Now 64 years old, Martelli put together a 444-328 record at St. Joe’s, winning four A10 titles and three A10 tournaments. He was the 2004 AP and Naismith Coach of the Year and made seven appearances in the NCAA Tournament. The Hawks also qualified for the NIT on six occasions.

Nelson and West went on to play in the NBA, along with Dwayne Jones (now a Sixers assistant), Langston Galloway, and DeAndre’ Bembry.

With the departure of Martelli, the impending departure of Fran Dunphy, and last year’s coaching change at La Salle, there’s new blood in Big Five basketball for what feels like the first time in a long time.

I didn’t go to a Big Five school, nor do I get to watch a lot of Big Five ball, but Kyle is out here doing his victory lap: