Phil Martelli of St. Joseph’s University fame, is not a third assistant coach for the Michigan Wolverines to be a mascot or to share ancedotes. He’s there to win, writes Andrew Kahn for mlive.com.

“I’m here to help Juwan Howard coach on a Monday night in April. That’s dead what I’m about.”

Martelli, 65, starts a new chapter in his 42-year coaching career. He was head coach at St. Joseph’s for 24 years and lived in the Philadelphia area his entire life.

Martelli said he’s coached 772 official games in the past 24 seasons.

“During all those games,” Martelli noted, “I’ve never sat down.”

Now he will take a seat as assistant coaches do while Howard will roam the sideline.

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

Martelli won 444 games at Saint Joseph’s. 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.

Read about Phil Martelli’s new role in Michigan here.

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