VCU welcomes new basketball coach with a promise to spend $4-5 million on players this year

As the world of college athletics changes, VCU officials promised Thursday not just that the Rams won't be left behind, but that they intend to seize the opportunity to lift their men's basketball program to new heights.

The Rams introduced new coach Phil Martelli Jr. amid a seismic change in the sports landscape.

On April 7, a judge will consider final approval of a settlement in the House vs. NCAA case, which will allow college athletics programs to pay student-athletes directly for the first time.

Until now, athletes have been paid for their name, image and likeness through unaffiliated groups known as collectives, who operated separate from the university.

VCU Director of Athletics Ed McLaughlin promised to devote $4-5 million to pay men's basketball players, which is expected to put the Rams on par with top programs nationally.

"It's critically important," McLaughlin said Thursday. "You can have the best coach in the world, but if you don't have good players, you're not going to win games, right? I mean, that's the reality.

"It's one of those things where it shows that VCU is a top program nationally."

College sports experts have theorized that programs without football teams might even have an advantage on the basketball court in the post-settlement world.

The settlement will cap distributions to athletes at 22% of revenue, or about $21 million at top schools. Those schools are likely to put the vast majority of their resources into football teams, given their outsized importance to revenue generation and school image.

(Virginia Tech athletic director Whit Babcock said last week his school will put about 75% of its resources into the football team, 15% into men's basketball and 10% into other teams.)

Without a football team, VCU can devote those resources to basketball.

The Rams reported $39.6 million in revenues during the most recent reporting cycle.

The obstacle at VCU isn't procedural but will instead be a fundraising challenge, as McLaughlin is tasked with finding an additional $4-5 million for the upcoming year's budget.

He has the support of school President Michael Rao, who spoke at Martelli's introduction about using this moment to lift the university.

"When there are transitions and changes, and there always will be, we really see them as opportunities to lift our organization to new heights," Rao said. "I'm here today, more than anything, to tell you great things are coming. Great things are coming VCU's way. We'll win like we've never won before. VCU is going to capture the attention of the world."

McLaughlin didn't shy away from that statement.

"We certainly expect in this new world to be a top-25 program," he said. "I do believe we can be the best basketball-centric program in America."

The timing of the settlement has led to a particularly chaotic time at the moment in college athletics, though.

Beginning with the approval of the settlement, schools will have to share contract information with a central clearinghouse for enforcement.

One assistant coach at a different school, who did not want to be named discussing strategy, said many power-conference schools are working to sign players for the upcoming season right now, before reporting requirements are put in place.

There is also the possibility the judge rejects the settlement, throwing things into further chaos.

A group of female athletes has argued that because the schools are distributing the money directly, the funds should be subject to Title IX regulations, and be distributed equally to male and female athletes. At previous hearings, judges have ruled against that argument.

At VCU, McLaughlin said staying nimble will be the key in the new world.

"We're flying the plane and building it at the same time," he said.

VCU is a sponsor of The Richmonder, but did not influence or review this story. Contact Michael Phillips at mphillips@richmonder.org.