Cresson, PA -- Mount Aloysius College has announced the hiring of Pat Martinelli as the institution's new head men's basketball coach. Martinelli brings a strong background in player development, recruiting, and program building, along with experience at several successful NCAA Division III programs. He replaces Marcus Thomas, who spent the last five seasons at the helm of the Mounties program.
Martinelli joins the Mount after serving as a full-time assistant coach at Carnegie Mellon University since October 2023. During his time with the Tartans, he played a key role in the program's resurgence, helping guide Carnegie Mellon to an at-large bid in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, it's first appearance since 2009.
While at Carnegie Mellon, Martinelli made an immediate impact on the recruiting trail and in player development. He helped recruit graduate standout Nikola Dimitrijevic (Dartmouth) who earned First Team All-UAA honors in 2026, along with Second Team All-Region recognition from both the NABC and D3hoops.com. Martinelli also played a significant role in developing multiple all-conference performers, including Justin Allen (First Team All-UAA in 2024 and 2025), Jack Stone (First Team All-UAA in 2024), and RJ Holmes (Honorable Mention All-UAA in 2025). His responsibilities included recruiting, practice planning, opponent scouting, and overall game preparation.
Prior to his time at Carnegie Mellon, Martinelli spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Chatham University. There, he helped elevate the Cougars into a championship-caliber program, culminating in a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) title in 2023 and an NCAA Tournament appearance. During his tenure, Chatham compiled an impressive 60-32 overall record and a 43-20 mark in conference play, highlighted by a school-record 21-win season in 2021-22.
Martinelli began his coaching career at Allegheny College, where he served two seasons as an assistant coach after working four years as a student assistant. In addition to his coaching responsibilities, he gained valuable administrative experience as a student assistant in Allegheny's athletic communications office, assisting with game day operations, statistics, and historical archiving.
A native of South Fayette, Pennsylvania, Martinelli earned his bachelor's degree in managerial economics with a minor in German from Allegheny College in 2017.
"We are thrilled to welcome Pat Martinelli to lead our men's basketball program," said Mount Aloysius Vice President for Athletics & Community Outreach, Kevin Kime. "His ability to recruit high-level student-athletes, develop talent, and contribute to winning cultures stood out throughout the search process. We are excited and enthusiastic about the direction of our program under his leadership and look forward to seeing what he can accomplish here at Mount Aloysius."
