From the NBA to TV: Where last year’s Michigan basketball coaches ended up

This summer, for the time in nearly 50 years, Phil Martelli was not preparing to coach basketball. “There were some anxious moments,” he said in a phone interview last week.

Martelli had spent the past five seasons as an assistant on Juwan Howard’s staff at Michigan. Howard was fired in March after the Wolverines finished with an 8-24 record. His replacement, Dusty May, hired an entirely new coaching staff.

With another basketball season about to begin, here’s a look at what Howard, Martelli, and the rest of the previous Michigan staff is up to.

Juwan Howard

After six years as an NBA assistant coach, the former Michigan basketball star took over at his alma mater in 2019, calling it a dream job. Howard had major success early, winning national Coach of the Year after guiding Michigan to a Big Ten regular-season title and Elite Eight in 2021. The program trended in the wrong direction from there, and a season that started with Howard having open-heart surgery ended in his dismissal.

It didn’t take long for Howard to land a new job, returning to the NBA as an assistant with the Brooklyn Nets under first-time head coach Jordi Fernandez. The Nets, who lack star power after trading Mikal Bridges to the Knicks for a bunch of draft picks, are not expected to make the playoffs this season. They open in Atlanta on Wednesday night.

“He’s excited about this new chapter,” Howard’s son Jace said last week. “He’s feeling well; his health is getting there. He’s finally said, ‘Now I feel back to my old self.’

“He’s rooting for us heavy this year. He’s always going to a Michigan fan.”

Jace said his dad will likely attend Michigan’s game against Arkansas at Madison Square Garden (Dec. 10) and possibly a home game when the Nets visit Detroit. Howard is living in Brooklyn, where his wife is from.

On Friday, the Nets go to Orlando, which has four former Wolverines on the roster, including Howard’s youngest son, Jett.

“I know my dad has that scout,” Jace said with a laugh. “He’s going to be telling them exactly what Jett likes to do and how to attack him.”

Phil Martelli

Howard had the same three assistant coaches for his entire tenure at Michigan, including the veteran Martelli. After last season, he returned to the Philadelphia area — he’d never really left — to figure out his next moves. He turned 70 in August but has no plans to retire.

He started a business, “Make a Difference,” which includes an Instagram account with a daily inspirational message; a podcast with difference makers in sports, education, and beyond; and speaking engagements.

You’ll see Martelli on FOX Sports as a color commentator for college basketball games this season. He’s got four lined up for November, starting with Fordham at Seton Hall on Nov. 9. (Martelli will be overdressed for that one, in a tux, as he has a wedding that evening.) He’s hoping to add another TV gig for a second game each week, but also wants to see his sons coach at Penn State and Bryant and attend his grandchildren’s games. In addition to all of that, Martelli will serve on the NIT selection committee.

One thing he won’t be doing? Coaching. “I’m done,” he said without hesitation. While he misses the daily interactions with players, coaches, and managers, his time at Michigan closed the book on a 47-year coaching career.

Saddi Washington

Washington was the lone assistant coach Howard retained from John Beilein’s staff. After eight years at Michigan, he switched sides in the in-state rivalry and joined Tom Izzo’s staff at Michigan State.

Washington is a Lansing native and son of a former Spartan star. “My family and I are excited for this move and becoming a Spartan is a bit of a full-circle moment for me since my parents and my youngest brother are MSU alums,” he said at the time of his hiring.

Michigan and Michigan State will play twice this season, on Feb. 21 in Ann Arbor and in the regular-season finale on March 9 in East Lansing.

Howard Eisley

The third assistant on Howard’s staff, Eisley came from the NBA. He did not respond to MLive’s messages but is believed to be looking to get back to the NBA. His son, Howard Eisley Jr., is a freshman walk-on at Michigan this season.

The support staff

Several other staffers from last season have found new jobs in college basketball. Jon Sanderson, the long-time strength and conditioning coach who resigned during the season after an altercation with Howard, is in the same role at Vanderbilt.

Jay Smith, the direction of player personnel, is the player development coach at Eastern Michigan; his son, Cooper, followed him and will suit up for the Eagles this season.

Jaaron Simmons, Michigan’s video coordinator and a former Michigan point guard, went to Wright State (in Dayton, Ohio) as an assistant under new head coach Clint Sargent.

Chris Hunter, Michigan’s director of basketball operations initially hired by Beilein, has been doing some small group basketball skills training and is working on opening a facility in the area. He’s started a podcast with his former Michigan teammate Daniel Horton.