BASKETBALL: MARTELLI'S 'PHILADELPHIA COACHING ACADEMY' HOLDING CLINIC AT ATHENS OCT. 25 (October 2, 2026)

Valley Sports Report
ATHENS — Well-known college basketball coach Phil Martelli is bringing the Philadelphia Coaching Academy to Athens Area High School on Oct. 25, from noon to 3 p.m. 

The on-court clinic is designed for coaches working with boys and girls through eighth grade, including recreational, travel, CYO and middle school coaches. 

"If you practice, you should come," Martelli said. "The Philadelphia Coaching Academy is back for its second year, and I’m excited to spend time with coaches who are committed to getting better and helping young players grow."

The clinic – hosted by the Athens Wildcats Youth Basketball Association and its AAU program NT Force – will focus on helping coaches improve the planning, organization and execution of their practices.

Martelli will lead an hour of instruction, two local high school coaches will each contribute to an additional hour, and a high school team will then take the court to demonstrate the drills, teaching and organization in a live practice setting.

The local coaches presenting will include Bill Hopkins, a member of the Section IV Hall of Fame (2023) and Corning-Painted Post Sports Hall of Fame. Hopkins – the longtime former head coach at Elmira Notre Dame and Corning – has a coaching career that has spanned 53 years and included more than 300 varsity victories and multiple sectional championships, making him one of the most accomplished high school basketball coaches in the Twin Tiers.

"Our goal is simple: to help you perfect your practices," Martelli said. “You’ll see the drills. You’ll see the teaching. You’ll see the organization."

Martelli spent 24 seasons as head coach at Saint Joseph’s University, becoming the program’s all-time leader in victories. He later served five seasons as associate head coach at the University of Michigan.
 
"We're excited to bring Phil Martelli and the Philadelphia Coaching Academy to Athens," said Kevin Dougherty, program director for NT Force and president of the AWYBA. “Phil is one of the most respected teachers in the game, and we're fortunate that area coaches will also learn from Coach Bill Hopkins, whose impact on basketball throughout the Twin Tiers has spanned more than four decades. 

"This clinic is really about giving youth coaches practical tools to help young players develop both on and off the court," added Dougherty.

"Although the academy is designed to strengthen basketball instruction, Martelli emphasizes that the impact of coaching extends well beyond the court.

"Every time you step onto the court with young people, you have an opportunity to make a difference," he said. "Coaching is about much more than basketball. It’s about being prepared. It’s about teaching. It’s about building relationships. It’s about helping young people grow."

The clinic costs $50 for an individual coach. Groups from the same school, organization or program receive discounted rates of $40 per coach for groups of six to 10 and $30 per coach for groups of 11 or more.
 
Coaches and program leaders may contact Kevin Dougherty at ntierforce@gmail.com for more information or to register. Registration is due by Oct. 16.
  
"The best coaches never stop learning," Martelli said. "There is always another drill to discover, another perspective to consider or another way to become more effective. Never stop learning. Never stop teaching. Never stop making a difference."

Print Friendly Version