Michigan basketball assistant Phil Martelli is here to win a national championship

ANN ARBOR -- Saddi Washington is happy to still be in Ann Arbor working with the Michigan basketball team, as he's done the past three years. Howard Eisley is excited to serve under his longtime friend, Juwan Howard, and mold college-aged players. As for Michigan's third assistant coach, Phil Martelli? He wants to make it clear he wasn't hired for his name or ability to share an anecdote.

"I'm not here to be a mascot," Martelli told reporters last week. "I'm here to help Juwan Howard coach on a Monday night in April. That's dead what I'm about. Because he's going to do that. I just want to be a part of that, making sure that that happens."

Martelli, 65, starts a new chapter in his 42-year coaching career. The previous one lasted 24 years, during which time Martelli was the head coach at Saint Joseph's in Philadelphia. He was at the school for 34 consecutive seasons.

Joining Howard’s staff required some major life adjustments. Martelli had lived in the Philly area his entire life. That’s where his wife and three of his grandchildren still are. He has the city’s newspapers delivered to him in Ann Arbor. Before his trips to Michigan Stadium this fall, he’d only been to one college football game, in 1975.

Then there's the job itself. Martelli is an assistant. He will make suggestions, not necessarily decisions. He won't have to answer questions after losses. He is not the face of the program.

"I'm going to give you a fact," Martelli said. He has coached 772 official games over the past 24 seasons, more if you count scrimmages and exhibitions. During all those games, Martelli noted, "I've never sat down."

When Michigan scrimmages Detroit Mercy later this week, he will take a seat, as assistant coaches do, while Howard, when he chooses, will roam the sideline.

"I don't know what that's like," Martelli said. "I don't know. I don't know. I really don't."

As unfamiliar as it may be -- and considering none of the four coaches have ever worked with any of the others before -- things have gone smoothly so far.

"Our staff is egoless," Howard said, adding that he wants everyone to have a voice during meetings. "I brought them here for a reason: because I trust their basketball knowledge."

He called Martelli a "basketball genius." He's previously referred to him as "the godfather."

Martelli said he doesn't need all his suggestions to be implemented. He just wants to know he's heard, and he is.

"But I'm not going to overstep my bounds," Martelli said. "I'm not here about me. I'm here about winning a national championship."

Martelli won 444 games at Saint Joseph's, though deep NCAA Tournament runs were rare. He made it past the opening weekend just twice, reaching the Elite Eight as a 1 seed in 2004 following an undefeated regular season.

Michigan, meanwhile, has reached the Sweet 16 five times over the past seven seasons, including two national championship appearances.

"Think about it," Martelli said. "Michigan is a blue blood. No one wants to admit that but look at their record under John Beilein. This is going up a level because of Juwan Howard."

Martelli knew of Howard's passion for his alma mater but has enjoyed experiencing it in person, like when Howard "was cheering like an undergrad" at a football game earlier this month.

Martelli has been impressed with how Howard has brought a family atmosphere to the basketball program. On the court, "I'm blown away by the teacher he is," Martelli said. "He loves getting his hands dirty, particularly working with these big guys.

"He works every aspect of this program. I'm amazed at how he's taken to recruiting. … He's exceeded my expectations. He's a star. They're not paying me to say that."

Martelli hasn't just sat back and watched his new boss. Far from home, in an unfamiliar role, the veteran coach has been inspired.

“I can’t wait to get up in the morning because I know that he’s putting everything -- his heart and soul, blood, sweat and tears -- into this, so I have to do the same to be honorable to the offer he made for me to come here.”

More Michigan basketball content:

Phil Martelli on how he wound up on Juwan Howard’s Michigan staff

A brief history of Michigan coach Juwan Howard’s acting career (and the one line he hated the most)

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