Will Tom Izzo retire? Michigan State basketball coach continues to lead Spartans in 2024

Tom Izzo is a pillar of not only Michigan State’s basketball program, but the sport of college basketball as a whole.

Since taking over for Jud Heathcote ahead of the 1995-96 season, Izzo has helped the Spartans become a model of consistency in a sport where even some of its historic powers are prone to jarring dips in fortune. Michigan State has made the NCAA Tournament every year in which it was held since 1998. Once there, his teams typically fare well, with 14 Sweet 16s, eight Final Fours and a national championship during that time. The man’s popularly known as “Mr. March” for a reason.

For all he has achieved, it’s fair to wonder just how much longer Izzo will keep roaming the sideline.

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Izzo is turning 70 in January, an age at which many coaching stalwarts get close to hanging up their whistle, if they haven’t already. Those questions exist in a rapidly changing sport and during a time in which the Spartans, while still successful, haven’t been a bona fide national title contender in several years.

As Michigan State prepares to face off against Kansas in the Champions Classic Tuesday in Atlanta, here’s a look at Izzo and the looming questions about retirement:

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Will Tom Izzo retire?

The decision to step aside from a game you love and a profession you’ve devoted your life to is a deeply personal one that doesn’t come with a neat or clearly defined timeline.

Certain factors can make it more likely to occur, though, which is how Izzo finds himself in this discussion.

As he approaches his 70th birthday, Izzo is in his 30th season as a head coach at a major Division I program, an extraordinarily long run.

The fact he’s still coaching is notable enough on its own.

Izzo has long been one of the faces of college basketball, but many of his peers in that…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/tom-izzo-retire-michigan-state-111516116.html

Author : USA TODAY Sports

Publish date : 2024-11-12 11:15:00

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