Grasso finalizes coaching staff for 20-21

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Bryant University men's basketball head coach Jared Grasso finalized his coaching staff for the 2020-21 season on Tuesday afternoon.

Grasso announced the promotion of Phil Martelli Jr. to the role of Associate Head Coach and the promotion of Eamonn Mahar to Assistant Coach. He also welcomes Luke St. Lifer back as the Director of Basketball Operations and Stephen Galgano as the Volunteer Assistant to the Head Coach.

"I am very excited about the additions to our staff, and even more so the continuity and familiarity of this group," Grasso said. "We are blessed to have a loyal and hard-working group of future head coaches on staff."

Martelli has been a member of Grasso's staff for the last two years, helping the Black and Gold win 15 games in 2019-20. He's been a major contributor to Bryant's recruiting success over the past two seasons and helped the Bulldogs produce a program-record nine Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week honors last winter. Martelli was named one of the NEC's top assistants in a recent poll conducted by Stadium's Jeff Goodman.

"Phil is as good an assistant coach as there is in the country," Grasso said. "He is organized, efficient, and as loyal as there is. I am blessed to be able to have him alongside me as my Associate Head Coach."

Mahar moves up from his role as Director of Basketball Operations and brings a great coaching background to the Bulldog bench. His father spent 35 years as a collegiate and high school coach and Mahar served as a student manager during his time at Cortland State. Mahar will work with the perimeter players this year.

"Eamonn has been with me for three years in administrative roles both at Iona and Bryant, Grasso said. "He is one of the hardest working and most loyal young coaches in the business. He comes from a great basketball family and is ready to take this next step in his coaching career."

St. Lifer returns to Bryant after spending the 19-20 season at Le Moyne College in Syracuse. He served as the Director of Basketball Analytics in 18-19 at Bryant. The Dolphins posted a 19-9 record and made the NCAA Tournament in his lone season. St. Lifer has also had stops at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and has coached summer camps at both Iowa and Georgia Tech.

"We are blessed to have Luke returning to the staff," Grasso said. "Having worked with us before, he knows the standards, expectations and culture that surrounds our program. He was able to grow last season as an assistant with a very successful Le Moyne program and we are very excited to have his energy and passion back in Smithfield."

Galgano comes to Bryant after four years as a student manager for the men's basketball program at the University of Delaware, where he assisted in practices, film/video breakdown, equipment management, statistical analysis as well as gameday operations and travel activities. He served as an intern for the Hoop Group as a recruiting coordinator in 2019 where he enlisted former and future campers and assisted with day-to-day office and event operations. Galgano also coached at several basketball camps including the University of Delaware, University of Notre Dame, Westchester County Slam Dunk, and Chris Ward Basketball.

"Stephen comes from a New York City basketball family," Grasso said. "He learned the last four years under Martin Inglesby at a very successful University of Delaware program. He is a young and hungry coach who has a very bright future."