2020-21 Season

In Maryland matchup, Martelli prepares for a success story of his own coaching tree

For nine years, from 1995 to 2004, Matt Brady made Phil Martelli’s life easier. As an assistant coach for St. Joseph’s, he developed into an Xs and Os specialist, providing a reliable voice that Martelli could always trust.

This week, he’s made his life harder. When Michigan’s three assistant coaches divvied up Big Ten opponents as scouting responsibilities before the season, Martelli ended up with Maryland, where Brady is now an assistant.

Nearly two decades after the pair last worked together, Martelli notices a hint of familiarity in his assignment.

“I was thinking, it’s my scout so I see a lot of the offensive tendencies,” Martelli said. “Matt’s a brilliant offensive mind. He’s really good at skill development and I can see that in their players.”

For Brady, those were skillsets that flourished under Martelli. In a coaching career that’s taken Brady to seven schools over more than three decades, he says Martelli remains unique for his willingness to learn from his assistants.

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