Tom Izzo

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Tom Izzo (Ittso) (Spanish pronunciation: born January 30, 1955) is an American college basketball coach who has served as the head coach at Michigan State University since 1995.

Izzo was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on April 4, 2016, under Izzo's guidance, Michigan State has had a fruitful collegiate basketball program, earning him the nickname "Mr March" in some regions of the NCAA Tournament.

In his 24 years at Michigan State, Izzo has led the Spartans to the 2000 NCAA Division I National Championship Game, eight Final Fours, nine Big Ten Championships, and six Big Ten Tournament titles.

In addition to setting the Big Ten records for the longest home winning streak, Izzo's teams have won invitations to 22 consecutive NCAA tournaments in the Big Tenny.

Analyst Andy Katz of ESPN ranked Michigan State as the top college basketball program in the Big Ten Conference for the decade from 1998 to 2007.Izzo's teams are often praised for their rebounding prowess and defensive tenacity.

He has received four national coach of the year awards and has accumulated a large teaching staff database; several of his former employees are now head coaches at other Division I schools.

Izzo has won nine regular-season conference titles, tied for the third most in conference history.

He has also won the most Big Ten Tournament titles (six) in conference history.

Izzo is the second in Big Ten victories (289 to 2020), trailing only Bob Knight.

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Playing career

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

Izzo, a former student at Northern Michigan, served as head coach at Ishpeming High School for one season. He went from 1979 to 1983 and spent his time at Northern Michigan University as an assistant coach. In September 1983, Izzo was hired as a part-time assistant at Michigan State. Izzo returned to Michigan State in 1986 as an assistant coach at University of Tulsa, when assistant Mike Deane left to become head coach at Siena College. Jud Heathcote promoted Izzo to associate head coach before the 1990–91 season. Izzo was named as the new head coach of MSU's men's basketball after Heathcote's retirement following the 1994–95 season and following both Heathcote and the Michigan State Athletic Director's recommendation.

Izzo, who was hired as the head coach at Michigan State in 1995, is now the longest-tenured basketball coach in the Big Ten Conference. Since winning his 341st game in 2009, beating Heathcote, he became the coach with the most victories in school history. Izzo's first two seasons as head coach went 9-9. Izzo went 6th and 7th in the conference, and didn't make the NCAA Tournament. MSU's conference record soared to 13-3 in 1998, and Izzo captured the first of his first two Big Ten championships. Michigan State also started a streak of 24 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, the second longest current streak among Division I teams. In the NCAA Tournament, Izzo has a record of 53-23. Izzo won his first six Big Ten tournament titles in 1999 and his first Final Four appearances since the NCAA Tournament bracket expanded to 64 teams in 1985. Izzo's official record against the Wolverines is 31–14, although Michigan vacated five of its games in the series at the start of his head coaching career.

With an 89–76 victory over Florida, Izzo led MSU to its second NCAA national championship in 2000. Eighty-two percent of his players who completed their education at MSU have earned a degree. Izzo has been sought by the Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, and New Jersey Nets for head coaching positions over the years. After a brief flirtation with Cleveland on June 15, 2010, Izzo informed the Michigan State University's Board of Trustees that he would remain head coach of Michigan State, in which he said he was "a Spartan for life."

Izzo lost out on his second national championship in 2009 after losing 89–72 to North Carolina. 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 1999–2010 were matched by no other team in college basketball.

USA Today Sports named Izzo as the fifth angriest coach in college basketball, an honor that he adores.

Izzo defeated Boston College in the Wooden Legacy on November 26, 2015, in his 500th game with Michigan State. Izzo won his 513th game in his career, taking second place over Gene Keady and all time for Big Ten victories won by a coach in the Big Ten. He follows Bob Knight, the only one who isn't a member of the Bob Knight.

When MSU suffered what was, at the time, perhaps the single biggest upset in NCAA Tournament history, when No. No. popped up on March 18, 2016. Middle Tennessee defeated the No. 1 seeds in the No. 15 divisions. Spartans 90-81 were seeded. MSU was thought to be the equivalent of a No. 1. They were expected to win the title despite 1 seed and Vegas odds. Middle Tennessee led from start to finish and beat repeated Michigan State challenges to take the lead. Despite that, Izzo said that the team "resurrected me."

Izzo received the Dean Smith Award on October 13, 2016. "A person in college basketball who embodies the spirit and values of the late North Carolina coaching legends embodies the spirit and values of the late coach greats."

Izzo led the Spartans to a 32–7 overall record, his fifth 30-win season, and 19th season with 20+ victories, nearly tripling his predecessor's seven 20-win seasons; the team reached the Final Four for the eighth time under Izzo. Michigan State was named the preseason No. 1 on October 21, 2019, at the outset of Izzo's 25th season as the Spartans' 25th season in charge. For the first time in program history, 1 team in The Associated Press top 25 men's college basketball preseason poll, dating back to the start of the AP poll in 1948.

The No. 2022 was defeated in February 26, 2022, 2022, with a victory over the No. 1. Purdue Boilermakers, Izzo, tied for the most major league victories at a Big Ten school, with former Indiana coach Bob Knight.

The Spartans announced on August 11, 2022, that Izzo had signed a 5-year contract extension worth 6.2 million dollars per year. The deal establishes that Izzo will be a "Spartan for life."

Izzo was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on April 4, 2016. Gary Williams, the former head coach of Maryland, was voted to represent him at the Hall of Fame ceremony. On September 9, 2016, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Izzo was inducted into the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan (BCAM) Hall of Fame in the Fall of 2016.

Izzo's teams are known for their strong guard work, toughness, and rebounding. Izzo is known for his "war" rebounding drill, in which the players wear football helmets and shoulder pads. "Players Play – Tough Players Win" is his motto. "He doesn't decide playing time, players do," and "a player-coached team is more effective than a coach-coached team." As preparations for the NCAA tournament in March, Izzo is also known for making incredibly busy non-conference schedules.

Early coaching career

Izzo, a graduate of Northern Michigan, was head coach at Ishpeming High School for a season. From 1979 to 1983, he served as an assistant coaching at Northern Michigan University. In September 1983, Izzo was appointed a part-time assistant at Michigan State. Izzo returned to Michigan State as an assistant coach at University of Tulsa in 1986 after a short two-month absence as an assistant coach. Siena College's head coach Mike Deane left after a brief two-month absence. Izzo was promoted to associate head coach before the 1990-91 season, but coach Jud Heathcote promoted him to associate head coach. Izzo has been named the MSU head coach of men's basketball following Heathcote's resignation following the 1994–95 season and subsequent to both Heathcote and the Michigan State Athletic Director's recommendation.

Izzo, who was hired as head coach at Michigan State in 1995, is now the longest-tenured basketball coach in the Big Ten Conference. Since winning his 341st game on November 29, 2009 to defeat Heathcote, he became the coach with the most wins in school history. Izzo's first two seasons as head coach, finishing 6th and 7th in the conference and losing out on the NCAA Tournament. MSU's conference record soared to 13–3 in 1998, and Izzo captured the first of his ten regular-season Big Ten championships. Michigan State also started a streak of 24 straight NCAA appearances, the second longest active streak among Division I teams. In the NCAA Tournament, Izzo has a record of 53-23. Izzo won his first two Big Ten tournament titles in 1999 and his first appearance in a row since the NCAA Tournament bracket expanded to 64 teams in 1985. Izzo's official record against the Wolverines is 31–14, though Michigan vacated five of their victories in the series at the start of his head coaching career.

Izzo led MSU to its second NCAA national championship in 2000 with an 89–76 victory over Florida. Eighty-two percent of his students who completed their eligibility earned a degree at MSU. Izzo has been searching for head coaching positions in Atlanta, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, and New Jersey Nets over the years. Following a brief match with Cleveland on June 15, 2010, Izzo told the Michigan State University's Board of Trustees that he would remain as the head coach of Michigan State, and that he was "a Spartan for life."

With a loss to North Carolina 89–72, Izzo fell short of winning his second national championship in 2009. His three consecutive Final Four appearances from 1999 to 2001 is the third longest of all time, and his six Final Four appearances in 1999–2010 were matched by no other team in college basketball.

USA Today Sports named Izzo as the country's fifth angriest coach in college basketball in 2013, an award he adores.

Izzo won his 500th game, all with Michigan State, with a victory over Boston College in the Wooden Legacy on November 26, 2015. Izzo won his 513th game in his career, taking second place over Gene Keady, the most Big Ten coaches ever. Only Bob Knight is trailed by him.

MSU suffered what was, at the time, perhaps the single greatest upset in NCAA Tournament history when No. 0 appeared on March 18, 2016. Middle Tennessee defeated the No. 1 seeded Middle Tennessee. Spartans 90-81, two seeded Spartans 90–81. MSU is thought to be the equivalent of a No. 2 in the United States. They were expected to win the title due to a 1 seed and Vegas odds. Middle Tennessee led from start to finish, avoiding repeated Michigan State challenges before taking the lead. Despite this, Izzo said the team "resurrects me."

Izzo received the Dean Smith Award on October 13, 2016, which is given to "an individual in college basketball who embodies the spirit and values of the late North Carolina coaching greats."

Izzo led the 2018-19 Spartans to a 32–7 overall record and 19th season with 20+ wins, almost tripling his predecessor's seven 20-win seasons; the team reached the Final Four for the eighth time under Izzo. Michigan State was named the preseason No. 201 at the start of Izzo's 25th season as the Spartans' 25th season. For the first time in program history, one team in the Associated Press Top 25 men's college basketball preseason poll, dating back to the start of the AP poll in 1948.

The No. 22022 victory over the No. 2nd in February 26, 2022, 2022. Purdue Boilermakers, Izzo's former Indiana coach Bob Knight for the most major tournament victories ever at a Big Ten school.

With the Spartans, Izzo agreed to a 5-year deal extension worth 6.2 million dollars per year. The deal makes it clear that Izzo will be a "Spartan for life."

Izzo was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on April 4, 2016. At the Hall of Fame in Baltimore, Izzo selected former Maryland head coach Gary Williams to welcome him. On September 9, 2016, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Izzo was elected to the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan (BCAM) Hall of Fame in the Fall of 2016.

Izzo's teams are known for their solid guard play, toughness, and rebounding. Izzo is best known for his "war" rebounding drill, in which the players wear football helmets and shoulder pads. "Players Play – Tough Players Win," his motto is. "He doesn't decide playing time, players do," and "A player-coached team is more effective than a coach-coached team." Izzo is also known for arranging incredibly challenging non-conference hours in the buildup to the NCAA tournament in March.

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