Some interviews are challenging, requiring persistent prodding to get the subject to open up and share something interesting.

My interview with Phil Martelli was not like this at all. Martelli, the former long-time head coach at Saint Joseph’s who is in his first year as an assistant on Juwan Howard’s staff at Michigan, is one of the best storytellers in college basketball.

Here is my story on Martelli, who for the first time in a quarter century is not the head coach, and for the first time in his life is not living in the Philadelphia area.

Phil Martelli: ‘The Godfather’ who has brought a taste of Philly to Michigan basketball