Tom Izzo

Tom Izzo

Northern Michigan Basketball Player (1973 – 1977)
Michigan State Basketball Coach (1995 – present)

Tom Izzo was born in Iron Mountain, Michigan and played football, basketball and track at Iron Mountain High School before focusing on basketball at Northern Michigan University earning Division II All American honors in his senior season. After serving as an assistant coach for several seasons, Izzo was named MSU's head coach following the retirement of Jud Heathcoate in 1995. During his 24 seasons (through 2019) as MSU’s head coach, Izzo's teams have won 606 games, the most by any MSU coach.  The Spartans have appeared in 22 straight NCAA tournaments, made eight Final Four appearances and won the 2000 NCAA championship. Izzo has won three Big Ten Coach of the Year honors as well as one AP College Coach of the Year award. Tom Izzo was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016, and was inducted  into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.