Latest news with #Izzo
USA Today
5 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
Former Izzo staffer, longtime NBA assistant hired by Phoenix Suns as head coach
Former Izzo staffer, longtime NBA assistant hired by Phoenix Suns as head coach The Michigan State connections are just building stronger and stronger in Phoenix for the Suns franchise. While former MSU walk-on Matt Ishbia is the owner of the team, he has snagged another MSU connection to be his next head coach. The Suns are hiring Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott as the franchise's next head coach. Ott previously spent time on Tom Izzo's staff as a video assistant, while also gaining his Master's degree from MSU. After his time at Michigan State, Ott went on to be an assistant coach at various levels in the NBA from 2013 to 2025, spending time with the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Laker and Cavaliers. Now, he is getting his shot at being the head man in the league. Ott now joins Jim Boylen as the second former Michigan State assistant under Izzo to be a head coach in the NBA. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on X @Cory_Linsner
Newsweek
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Tom Izzo, Michigan State Receive Head-Turning 2025-26 Prediction
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Michigan State Spartans and head coach Tom Izzo put together a strong 2024-25 season. When all was said and done, they finished with a 30-7 record. Entering the NCAA Tournament, Michigan State was given a No. 2 seed. Izzo was able to lead his team past No. 15 Bryant in the first round, No. 10 New Mexico in the second round, and No. 6 Ole Miss in the Sweet 16. Unfortunately, the Spartans were unable to beat No. 1 Auburn. Despite losing in the Elite Eight, it was a successful season for Michigan State. Izzo and company have a bright outlook for the future. Coach Tom Izzo's Michigan State Spartans are slight favorites in Friday's Sweet 16 clash with Ole Miss. Coach Tom Izzo's Michigan State Spartans are slight favorites in Friday's Sweet 16 clash with Ole how bright of an outlook do they have? It's still very early, but the Spartans have received a strong prediction for next year. Read more: Former 4-Time NBA All-Star Unveils Shocking Mavericks, Cooper Flagg Take ESPN has released a new bracketology update. In that update, Michigan State was projected to be a No. 4 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That would suggest the Spartans being a potential championship contender once again. Of course, these projections don't mean much. But, they do show a bright outlook and a national feel for what Michigan State is capable of being. As long as Izzo is the Spartans' head coach, they are always going to have a chance. He has put together one of the best careers of all time from a college coach. Throughout his tenure with Michigan State, which began all the way back in the 1995-96 season, Izzo has led the program to an impressive 737-302 record, which is good enough for a 70.9 winning percentage. He has also won a national championship that came back in 1999-2000 and has led six Final Four runs. Read more: Shaq Fuels Rigged NBA Draft Lottery System Theory With Wild Story Prior to last season's March Madness run, Izzo was asked about his future and potential retirement. He made it clear that he's not thinking about that right now. "I don't believe you have to retire on a high note," he said. For now, the Spartans remain a team to keep a very close eye on heading into the 2025-26 season. Back in April, ESPN also took a look at an early top-25 ranking for all teams in college basketball. Michigan State landed at No. 21 in those rankings. The Spartans have some work to do, but Izzo leading the way should give fans and the team a lot of confidence. For more college basketball news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Michigan State Makes Tom Izzo Decision on Thursday
At 70 years old, Tom Izzo has accomplished just about everything in his legendary career as head basketball coach at Michigan State. A member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Izzo has taken the Spartans to the NCAA Tournament Final Four eight times and racked up 737 career wins — 59 of those coming in March Madness. He has been the face of the program in East Lansing since taking over in 1995. And now, he's about to take on a new role. Advertisement For the first time in his illustrious career, Izzo will step into the front office. He's been named one of the co-interim athletic directors at Michigan State, alongside current deputy athletic director Jennifer Smith. They'll be taking over for Alan Haller, who is stepping down. Haller's final day will be May 11. Michigan State President Kevin M. Guskiewicz released a statement on the transition. 'I'm grateful for Alan's leadership since I joined the university and appreciate the success our programs have seen under his leadership," Guskiewicz wrote. "He is deeply committed to this university and has led with honesty and integrity.' Guskiewicz added more on the future of the school's athletic department: 'This is a pivotal time for college athletics, where innovation, effective communications and community engagement are more important than ever. Our next athletic director will lead one of the nation's more storied athletic programs — home to 23 varsity sports, a passionate fan base, a long legacy of academic and athletic excellence, and, most importantly, an ambitious future.' Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo.© Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK Michigan State is coming off another strong season on the hardwood. The Spartans finished the 2024-25 campaign with a 30-7 record, including a 17-3 mark in Big Ten play. They were one win away from another Final Four appearance under Izzo. Advertisement During the season, Izzo passed former Indiana Hoosiers coach Bob Knight for most career Big Ten wins. And even with a new title on the way, Izzo isn't slowing down on the basketball side. He has already hit the transfer portal hard, landing Kalen Glenn from the Florida Atlantic Owls and Trey Fort from the Samford Bulldogs. It's going to be a busy offseason in East Lansing, and Izzo will be right in the middle of all of it. Related: No. 1 College Basketball Recruit is Turning Heads With New Post Related: UConn Reacts to Big Announcement on Five-Star College Basketball Recruit
USA Today
05-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Six potential targets for Michigan State's backup point guard role
Six potential targets for Michigan State's backup point guard role It has been an eventful offseason for Tom Izzo and Michigan State in 2025, and it still isn't quite over yet. The Spartans are still in the market for someone to round out the roster as a backup point guard, that can also give the team minutes at the two. After three departures from the MSU roster, followed by the acquisition of Kaleb Glenn and Trey Fort, the Spartans are shaping their roster into the form that Izzo sees fit for 2025-26. That will include another ball handler. Michigan State made a run at 5-star guard Darius Adams, looking to tab him for the role, but he ultimately decided to play for Maryland, leaving MSU looking back at the transfer portal and other avenues for a potential add. With Izzo and his staff having a clear role that has to be filled, they will find themselves parsing through the portal and European markets. The complexity of the portal has changed, with a ton of prospects withdrawing, committing to a new school, or having clear leaders in their recruitment. Now, let's take a look at six names the Spartans could pursue for their backup point guard role: Divine Ugochukwu (Miami) The most recent prospect that is picking up steam amongst the Michigan State community is Divine Ugochukwu, who MSU had been in heavy contact with in recent weeks. Now the two parties are reportedly conducting a Zoom meeting on Sunday night, meaning the recruitment is truly picking up steam. MSU is in the mix along with USC and Texas Tech, vying for the final three years remaining in his collegiate career. Jon Sanders (Northwestern State) A prospect with local ties, Jon Sanders is from Detroit and played his high school basketball at Southfield Christian Academy. His college career then started at East Los Angeles College before he played a season at Coastal Carolina and then a season at Northwestern State. In his two seasons at the division one level, Sanders averaged 8.0 points, 2.1 assists and 1.8 rebounds while shooting 38.3% from the field and 35.7% from 3-point range, including a 40.4% 3-point season a year ago. The 6-foot-2, 180 pound Detroit native is also the nephew of Michigan's Fab Five team member, Jimmy King. Jordan Mason (Illinois-Chicago) A San Antonio (TX) native, Jordan Mason played his first two years of college ball at Texas State before spending this past season at Illinois-Chicago. A 6-foot-2 guard, he has experience playing in the Sun Belt and Missouri Valley conference, where he averaged 9.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists over his three total years in college. Nate Pickens (UC-Riverside) After spending three years with UC-Riverside, Nate Pickens has made the decision to enter the transfer portal. After easing into a role as a freshman, these past two seasons have seen Pickens average 9.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists. In those 67 games he shot the ball 38.1% from the field and 35.9% from 3-point range, showing improvement in shooting the long ball in all three seasons. There is no reports that MSU has made contact, but most recently, BYU hosted Pickens on a visit this past weekend. Zae Blake (Wagner) Zae Blake began his career at Southwest Mississippi Community College before spending one season at Green Bay and last season at Wagner. He missed the 2023-24 season with an injury. In his two years at the division one level, Blake averaged 9.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists while shooting 44.1% from the field and shooting 42.7% from 3-point land. Noam Yaacov (Hapoel Tel Aviv) The European route is something that many in the college basketball world have explored vastly, and reports have indicated that the Spartans have inquired about Noam Yaacov, a 20-year old point guard that plays for Hapoel Tel Aviv of the Israeli Premier League. From Denmark, Yaacov has experience and the skillset that would fit what MSU wants. Prior to Hapoel Tel Aviv, he played with ASVEL Basket of the French Professional League, LNB Pro A and the EuroLeague, he averaged 17.8 points, 8.2 assists, and 1.5 steals in 31.0 minutes per game. Euro route As mentioned before, the European route is becoming more and more popular, while the Spartans have shown an interest in exploring the route already, meaning MSU might continue to dabble in the route to fill the void they have.
USA Today
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Tom Izzo received a gift from Greg Gard after attending Badgers event against cancer
Tom Izzo received a gift from Greg Gard after attending Badgers event against cancer Tom Izzo is someone that is known around the sport of college basketball, and especially the Big Ten, as an outstanding human being. Izzo has made a ton of friends, in the coaching industry in particularly, and is always doing his best to support those in the industry. To start the month of May, Izzo made the trek across Lake Michigan to Wisconsin, where he made an appearance at the Garding Against Cancer event. The event is put on by Wisconsin basketball and the Badgers head coach, Greg Gard. For making an appearance at the event, and supporting Gard and the Badgers in their fight against cancer, Izzo was presented with a gift from Gard at the event. The gift is something that will make a lot of Spartan fans cringe. Izzo received a customized Green Bay Packers jersey from Gard, with his last name on the back and donning the No. 25. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on X @Cory_Linsner
