Tom Izzo

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Tom Izzo
TomIzzoGrandRapids.jpg
Sport(s) Basketball
Current position
Title Head coach
Team Michigan State
Record 437–176 (.713)
Biographical details
Born (1955-01-30) January 30, 1955 (age 58)
Iron Mountain, Michigan
Playing career
1973–1977 Northern Michigan
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1977–1978
1979–1983
1983–1995
1995–present		 Ishpeming HS (MI)
Northern Michigan (assistant)
Michigan State (assistant)
Michigan State
Head coaching record
Overall 437–176 (.713)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
One NCAA Division I Championship: (2000)
Six Regional Championships - Final Four: (1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2010)
Seven Big Ten Championships: (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2009, 2010, 2012)
Three Big Ten Tournament Championships: (1999, 2000, 2012)
Accomplishments
Two NCAA Championship Games: (2000, 2009)
Seven Elite Eight: (1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2010)
Eleven Sweet 16: (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013)
Sixteen NCAA Tournament Bids: (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)
Awards
Associated Press National Coach of the Year (1998)
Henry Iba Award (1998)
Big Ten Coach of the Year (1998, 2009, 2012)

Tom Izzo (/ˈɪzoʊ/, Italian pronunciation: [ˈittso]; born January 30, 1955) is an American college basketball coach. Since 1995, he has been the head coach for the Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team, presiding over a prolonged period of success.[1]

Under Izzo, the Michigan State program has been one of the most successful in the country. Izzo has led the Spartans to the 2000 NCAA Division I National Championship, the 2009 NCAA Division I National Championship Game, six Final Fours, and seven Big Ten Championships in his first 17 years at Michigan State. The coach with the most wins in school history, Izzo's teams have been invited to the past 16 consecutive NCAA tournaments, in addition to setting the Big Ten record for the longest home winning streak. These accomplishments led analyst Andy Katz at ESPN to deem Michigan State the top college basketball program for the decade from 1998 to 2007.[2]

Currently the longest tenured coach in the Big Ten Conference, Izzo, whose teams are often recognized for their rebounding prowess and defensive tenacity, has won four national coach of the year awards and maintains a considerable coaching tree—several of his former assistants are currently head coaches at other Division I schools. Izzo is just the 5th coach in Big Ten history to win 7 conference titles.

Contents

Biography[edit]

Playing career[edit]

Izzo was born and raised in Iron Mountain in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where he met best friend and former NFL head coach Steve Mariucci. Both attended Iron Mountain High where they were teammates on the football, basketball and track teams. At Northern Michigan University in Marquette, where they were roommates, Izzo played guard for the men's basketball team from 1973 to 1977. In his senior season, he set a school record for minutes played and was named a Division II All-American.

Early coaching career[edit]

After graduating from Northern Michigan, Izzo was head coach at Ishpeming High School for one season. He then took an assistant coaching job at Northern Michigan University from 1979 to 1983. Izzo was then named a part-time assistant at Michigan State in September 1983. After a short two month stay in 1986 as an assistant coach at University of Tulsa, Izzo returned to Michigan State when assistant Mike Deane left to become head coach at Siena College. Prior to the 1990–91 season, then-current coach Jud Heathcote elevated Izzo to associate head coach. After Heathcote's retirement following the 1994-95 season and upon both his and the Michigan State Athletic Director's recommendation, Izzo was named the new head coach of men's basketball for MSU.[3]

Head coach at Michigan State[edit]

Izzo and John Calipari, the two highest paid college coaches in 2012,[4] talk while scouting a blue chip recruit

Hired as head coach at Michigan State in 1995, Izzo is currently the longest-tenured basketball coach in the Big Ten Conference. He became the coach with the most wins in school history after winning his 341st game on November 29, 2009 to surpass Heathcote.[5] In his first two seasons as head coach, Izzo went 9-9 finishing 6th and 7th in the conference and failed to make the tournament. In 1998, MSU's record in conference improved to 13-3 and Izzo won the first of his seven regular-season Big Ten championships and three Big Ten Tournament titles. 1998 also saw Michigan State begin a streak of 15 straight NCAA tournament appearances, which is the 3rd longest current streak among Division I teams. During that run only Roy Williams (38 wins) and Mike Krzyzewski (39 wins) have more NCAA tournament wins than Tom Izzo (37). The following season the team went to the first of Izzo's three straight Final Four appearances, joining Krzyzewski and Ben Howland as the only three coaches who have made three consecutive Final Fours since the NCAA tournament bracket expanded to 64 teams in 1985. Izzo's .725 winning percentage (37-14 record) in the NCAA tournament ranks third among all active coaches with 10 or more games coached.[6] He currently holds a 20-11 head-to-head record against in-state rival University of Michigan. However, since Michigan was forced by the NCAA to vacate five of those victories due to violations, Izzo's official record against the Wolverines is 20-6.

In 2000, Izzo led MSU to its second NCAA national championship with a 89-76 win over the Florida Gators. Since he became head coach, every player whom he has recruited and who completed his full four year eligibility has gone to the Final Four. Eighty-two percent of his players who completed their eligibility left MSU with a degree. Over the last ten years, Izzo has been pursued by the Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, and New Jersey Nets for head coaching jobs.[7][8][9] Izzo fell short of obtaining his 2nd national championship on April 6, 2009, losing to North Carolina 89–72. His streak of three straight Final Four appearances from 1999 to 2001 is the third-longest of all time, and his six Final Four appearances in the years 1999–2010 were matched by no other team in college basketball. During the summer of 2010, Izzo was approached by the Cleveland Cavaliers on becoming their next head coach. With the possibility of potentially being able to coach LeBron James, Izzo pondered the offer for over a week. Finally, on June 15, 2010, Izzo reported to the Michigan State University's Board of Trustees that he would remain head coach of Michigan State, in which he stated he was "a Spartan for life."[10]

Coaching philosophy[edit]

We’ll play anybody, anyplace, anytime. It doesn’t matter, morning, noon or night, and it doesn’t matter who it is.

Tom Izzo [11]

Izzo's teams are known for strong guard play, toughness and rebounding. Izzo is famed for his "war" rebounding drill, in which the players wear football helmets and shoulder pads.[12] His motto is "Players Play – Tough Players Win".[13] His other coaching philosophy is that "he doesn't determine playing time, players do." Izzo is also known for scheduling extremely tough non-conference schedules as preparation for the NCAA tournament. This way the players have already played the top teams in the country and won't be fazed come March Madness.

High School Player Development[edit]

High School All-Americans[edit]

Thirteen High School All-Americans have played for Tom Izzo at MSU:

NA = Naismith All-American; M = McDonald's All-Americans; P = Parade All-America Boys Basketball Team; N = Sporting News; E = EA Sports All-America; U = USA Today

Mr. Basketball[edit]

Thirteen Mr. Basketball winners have played for Tom Izzo at MSU.

Mr. Basketball of Michigan[edit]

Illinois[edit]

Indiana[edit]

  • 2012: Gary Harris, Hamilton Southeastern

Minnesota[edit]

  • 2006: Isaiah Dahlman, Braham

Ohio[edit]

College Player Development[edit]

College All-America honors[edit]

Under Izzo, seven Spartans have earned All-America honors

Chris Hill was named the 2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American of the Year and 2005 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar of the Year.

All-Big Ten[edit]

Under Izzo 18 different players have earned first or second team All-Big Ten conference recognition and four have been named Player of the Year.

Big Ten Player of the Year[edit]

First Team[edit]

Second Team[edit]

Sixth Man of the Year[edit]

Freshman of the Year[edit]

NBA player development[edit]

NBA Draft[edit]

Since he took over as head coach, thirteen players have been selected in the NBA draft. Six of those players have been drafted in the first round. The former players under Tom Izzo who have made the NBA are: [14]

NFL Draft[edit]

Two former Spartan basketball players have joined the National Football League after the conclusion of their college basketball careers.

NBA championships[edit]

Coaching Tree[edit]

Coaching tree[edit]

Several of Izzo's former assistants are currently head coaches at other schools:

Former Izzo assistants who were college head coaches:

Current Izzo assistants who were previously college head coaches:

USA basketball[edit]

Izzo was head coach of the USA Basketball men's team that took 4th place at the 2003 Pan American Games. Prior to that he was assistant coach of the team that had a 5–0 record and won the gold medal at the 2001 Goodwill Games. Izzo served on the Collegiate Committee of USA Basketball's 2005-2008 Quadrennium Committees.[15]

Operation Hardwood[edit]

In 2005 and 2006, Izzo participated in Operation Hardwood, in which college coaches went to Kuwait military camps to coach basketball teams of American service members. Among the other coaches were Tubby Smith, Gary Williams, and Rick Barnes. In 2005, Izzo's team won the tournament championship.

Head coaching record[edit]

Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Michigan State Spartans (Big Ten Conference) (1995–present)
1995–1996 Michigan State 16–16 9–9 7th NIT Second Round
1996–1997 Michigan State 17–12 9–9 T–6th NIT Second Round
1997–1998 Michigan State 22–8 13–3 T–1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1998–1999 Michigan State 33–5 15–1 1st NCAA Final Four
1999–2000 Michigan State 32–7 13–3 T–1st NCAA Champions
2000–2001 Michigan State 28–5 13–3 T–1st NCAA Final Four
2001–2002 Michigan State 19–12 10–6 5th NCAA First Round
2002–2003 Michigan State 22–13 10–6 T–3rd NCAA Elite Eight
2003–2004 Michigan State 18–12 12–4 T–2nd NCAA First Round
2004–2005 Michigan State 26–7 13–3 2nd NCAA Final Four
2005–2006 Michigan State 22–12 8–8 T–6th NCAA First Round
2006–2007 Michigan State 23–12 8–8 T–7th NCAA Second Round
2007–2008 Michigan State 27–9 12–6 4th NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2008–2009 Michigan State 31–7 15–3 1st NCAA Runner-Up
2009–2010 Michigan State 28–9 14–4 T–1st NCAA Final Four
2010–2011 Michigan State 19–15 9–9 T–4th NCAA Second Round
2011–2012 Michigan State 29–8 13–5 T–1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2012–2013 Michigan State 27–9 13–5 T–2nd NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2013–2014 Michigan State 0–0 0–0
Michigan State: 437–176 (.713) 209–95 (.693)
Total: 437–176 (.713)

      National champion         Conference regular season champion         Conference tournament champion
      Conference regular season and conference tournament champion       Conference division champion

Quotations[edit]

  • "I'm pleased to say I am here for life at Michigan State."[16]
  • “We’ll play anybody, anyplace, anytime. It doesn’t matter, morning, noon or night, and it doesn’t matter who it is.”[17]
  • "Players Play – Tough Players Win."[18]
  • "I'm so sick of people saying, 'He's a defensive coach, he's a rebounding coach.' I want to be a great defensive coach, a great rebounding coach, a great running-game coach, a great offensive-execution coach, a great special-teams-sidelines-out-of-bounds coach. I want utopia. I want my players to want utopia."[19]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ [1] Michigan State's Tom Izzo is college hoops' best coach, bar none Retrieved January 23, 2011
  2. ^ Katz, Andy (May 7, 2007). "Spartans' performance stacks up against anyone's". ESPN.com (ESPN). Retrieved 2009-05-10. 
  3. ^ Tom Izzo Biography CoachIzzo.com Retrieved June 19, 2010
  4. ^ Tom Van Riper (2012-03-05). "The highest-paid college basketball coaches". Forbes. Retrieved 2012-05-05. 
  5. ^ Izzo sets Michigan State record for wins as Spartans cruise CBS Sports. Retrieved June 19, 2010
  6. ^ NCAA Coaching Records NCAA.org, retrievedJune 19, 2010
  7. ^ Report: Hawks make offer to Izzo" CNNSI.com, May 12, 2000, retrieved August 7, 2006
  8. ^ "Izzo not interested in Raptors, plans to stay put" by Kelly Theiser, The State News, June 15, 2004, retrieved August 7, 2006
  9. ^ "Tom to Tucson: Izzo Top Candidate for Arizona Job" by Chris Domschke "The Beardown" "www.thebeardown.com" November 14, 2008, retrieved November 21, 2008
  10. ^ IZZO STAYS A SPARTAN WLNS-TV 6 Lansing, Retrieved June 15, 2010.
  11. ^ McNeill, Kevin (November 19, 2005). "Maui Invitational: Strength of Schedule". collegehoops.net. Retrieved 2009-05-10. 
  12. ^ Shelton, Gary. "Spartans are bruisers, and proud of it". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved 2009-05-10. 
  13. ^ Ken Mannie; Mike Vorkapich. "Spartan Basketball - Training With a Football Mentality". Coach and Athletic Director (Scholastic Corporation). Archived from the original on 2006-05-09. Retrieved 2009-05-10. 
  14. ^ Spartans in the NBA CoachIzzo.com. Retrieved June 19, 2010
  15. ^ "USA Basketball: USA Basketball 2001-2004 Quadrennium Committees". 2002-01-18. Archived from the original on 2005-12-29. Retrieved 2009-05-10. 
  16. ^ "Maui Invitational: Tom Izzo turning down Cleveland Cavaliers to stay with Michigan State". usatoday.com. June 15, 2010. 
  17. ^ McNeill, Kevin (November 19, 2005). "Maui Invitational: Strength of Schedule". collegehoops.net. Retrieved 2009-05-10. 
  18. ^ Ken Mannie; Mike Vorkapich. "Spartan Basketball - Training With a Football Mentality". Administrator magazine (Scholastic Corporation). Retrieved 2009-05-10. 
  19. ^ [2] Detroit Free Press[dead link]

External links[edit]

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