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A Soaring Season: The Incredible, Inspiring Story of the 2003-04 Saint Joseph’s Hawks
“The 2003–04 season was a dream for anyone in the orbit of Saint Joseph’s basketball. Being a student on Hawk Hill at the time, I lived every second of it, and long assumed I knew everything imaginable about that team and that time. Aaron Bracy proved otherwise. A Soaring Season isn’t only a joyous echo of those days, but it’s a deeply reported dive into all the coincidental circumstances required for ordinary people to go extraordinary places." — Brendan Quinn, The Athletic
In the 2003–04 season, Saint Joseph’s became the most unlikely and most incredible story in college basketball. The underdog Hawks captivated the entire city of Philadelphia and much of the nation with a unique, guard-oriented style and team-first mentality featuring players who were not wanted by power conferences. Big-time programs passed over star point guard Jameer Nelson because of his height, but Nelson played an oversized, sensational game that dwarfed his 5 feet, 11 inches height. Nelson’s backcourt mate, Delonte West, was a lightly recruited prospect out of high school but transformed himself into an NBA first-round draft pick with a work ethic and competitive drive that never had been seen before or since on Hawk Hill.
Outspoken head coach Phil Martelli—overlooked for the only job he had ever wanted until he was nearly 41 years old—surrounded Nelson and West with a perfect cast of complementary players. Individually, none of Nelson and West’s teammates would be mentioned as an All-American candidate. Put all of the Hawks together, however, and you had a practically unstoppable force. Not only did the players accept their roles, they relished them. And each one’s contribution, from Nelson and West all the way down to former cheerleader and walk-on Robert Hartshorn, was crucial to the entire team’s success.
The Hawks, spurred on by a mascot who never stops flapping its wings and a never-quit school mantra—The Hawk Will Never Die—played their games in a gym that wasn’t even as modern as many high schools. Not much about the Hawks’ home felt big-time—not much, that is, except their team. It was this low-budget, mom-and-pop men’s basketball program that overcame seemingly insurmountable odds to complete a perfect regular season, rise to the unanimous No. 1 ranking in the country, and become the envy of the blue bloods of the sport. St. Joe’s provided hope then and today by reminding everyone that you don’t have to be the biggest to beat the biggest or have the best to be the best.
In the 2003–04 season, Saint Joseph’s became the most unlikely and most incredible story in college basketball. The underdog Hawks captivated the entire city of Philadelphia and much of the nation with a unique, guard-oriented style and team-first mentality featuring players who were not wanted by power conferences. Big-time programs passed over star point guard Jameer Nelson because of his height, but Nelson played an oversized, sensational game that dwarfed his 5 feet, 11 inches height. Nelson’s backcourt mate, Delonte West, was a lightly recruited prospect out of high school but transformed himself into an NBA first-round draft pick with a work ethic and competitive drive that never had been seen before or since on Hawk Hill.
Outspoken head coach Phil Martelli—overlooked for the only job he had ever wanted until he was nearly 41 years old—surrounded Nelson and West with a perfect cast of complementary players. Individually, none of Nelson and West’s teammates would be mentioned as an All-American candidate. Put all of the Hawks together, however, and you had a practically unstoppable force. Not only did the players accept their roles, they relished them. And each one’s contribution, from Nelson and West all the way down to former cheerleader and walk-on Robert Hartshorn, was crucial to the entire team’s success.
The Hawks, spurred on by a mascot who never stops flapping its wings and a never-quit school mantra—The Hawk Will Never Die—played their games in a gym that wasn’t even as modern as many high schools. Not much about the Hawks’ home felt big-time—not much, that is, except their team. It was this low-budget, mom-and-pop men’s basketball program that overcame seemingly insurmountable odds to complete a perfect regular season, rise to the unanimous No. 1 ranking in the country, and become the envy of the blue bloods of the sport. St. Joe’s provided hope then and today by reminding everyone that you don’t have to be the biggest to beat the biggest or have the best to be the best.
- GenresSportsBasketballHistory
288 pages, Hardcover
Published March 1, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 6, 2025
Tremendous reliving of an historic season by my Alma mater. Only wish the ending could have been changed to reflect the passion of all Hawk fans. #THWND.
June 25, 2025
A tremendous book that completely captures one of the greatest seasons ever played by a college basketball team.
February 23, 2026
College basketball has had its share of teams, mainly from smaller schools, go on unbelievable runs during a season to get far into the championship tournament otherwise known as March Madness. This book by Aaron Bracy tells the story of one of these teams, the 2003-04 St. Joseph’s Hawks. For those not familiar with the fate of the team, skip this sentence – the Hawks made it to the Elite Eight, losing a heartbreaking game to Oklahoma State 64-62, denying them a trip to the Final Four.
Located in Philadelphia, the Hawks made their run on two future first-round draft choices of NBA teams. Jameer Nelson and Delonte West were the stars of this team and were the clear leaders. Nelson was also named as the national Player of the Year in college basketball that season. However, as basketball is a team game, it also took contributions from many players and coaches. This is the strength of this book as Bracy did a very good job of not only providing information on every player and coach (and even the mascot) but also ensuring that contributions by them were included in every game summary.
The book follows a very familiar format for books describing one season for a team, no matter the sport or the level (college, pro, amateur, etc.). The book starts with a cliffhanger scene from the Oklahoma State game, then goes on to give the back story of how they built the team, mainly concentrating on West, Nelson and the head coach Phil Martelli. Then the book goes into the season with a game-by-game account that is typical for this genre, but as mentioned, will go beyond just the stars and provide highlights and quotes from other players as well. Once the games are completed, there is a wrap up of the season and a “where are they now” section for each of the key contributors.
While this book wasn’t much different than other books that capture a special season, I did enjoy reliving the story of this team that caught the attention of many basketball fans, including myself. I remember the Oklahoma State game quite well and Nelson lying on the floor after just missing the shot that would have tied the game, then sitting up with his knees up and staring out in disbelief that it was all over. That was captured in one of the many very good passages on the players by the author.
I wish to thank Mr. Bracy for providing a copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
Located in Philadelphia, the Hawks made their run on two future first-round draft choices of NBA teams. Jameer Nelson and Delonte West were the stars of this team and were the clear leaders. Nelson was also named as the national Player of the Year in college basketball that season. However, as basketball is a team game, it also took contributions from many players and coaches. This is the strength of this book as Bracy did a very good job of not only providing information on every player and coach (and even the mascot) but also ensuring that contributions by them were included in every game summary.
The book follows a very familiar format for books describing one season for a team, no matter the sport or the level (college, pro, amateur, etc.). The book starts with a cliffhanger scene from the Oklahoma State game, then goes on to give the back story of how they built the team, mainly concentrating on West, Nelson and the head coach Phil Martelli. Then the book goes into the season with a game-by-game account that is typical for this genre, but as mentioned, will go beyond just the stars and provide highlights and quotes from other players as well. Once the games are completed, there is a wrap up of the season and a “where are they now” section for each of the key contributors.
While this book wasn’t much different than other books that capture a special season, I did enjoy reliving the story of this team that caught the attention of many basketball fans, including myself. I remember the Oklahoma State game quite well and Nelson lying on the floor after just missing the shot that would have tied the game, then sitting up with his knees up and staring out in disbelief that it was all over. That was captured in one of the many very good passages on the players by the author.
I wish to thank Mr. Bracy for providing a copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
March 30, 2025
This a book for the fans and a trip down memory lane.
April 1, 2026
As a St.Joe's basketball fan this was a great read.
Aaron has truely done a fantastic job with this story! THWND
Aaron has truely done a fantastic job with this story! THWND
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews