Tom Izzo

Biography

Having completed his 16th year directing the Spartan program, head coach Tom Izzo has compiled an impressive list of accomplishments, including the 2000 NCAA National Championship, six regular-season Big Ten Championships, two Big Ten Tournament titles, six Final Four appearances, four National Coach of the Year awards and a Big Ten-best 14 straight NCAA Tournament appearances.

These accomplishments, however, are not what make Izzo one of the best in the game, but rather it is his insatiable desire to accomplish more.

With a career record of 383-161, it`s easy to see that Izzo knows how to win, but he also knows how to win the right way. In his 16 full years directing the Spartan program, 81 percent of his players who completed their eligibility also left with a degree. In the last 12 years, 35 Spartans have received their undergraduate degrees.

In 16 seasons, Izzo has returned Michigan State to national prominence, placed his name in the NCAA record books and become a leader among college basketball coaches. Izzo`s 383 wins are the sixth most by any coach in his first 16 seasons in the history of college basketball. In late November 2009, he passed his mentor Jud Heathcote (340 wins) to become MSU`s all-time winningest coach. In the NCAA Tournament, Izzo is at his best, winning at a clip of .729 to rank sixth among all active coaches with at least 10 tournament games coached.

Izzo led MSU to six Final Four appearances between 1999 and 2010, becoming just the fourth school in college basketball history to do it in any 12-year span, including just the third since the tournament field expanded to 64 teams in 1985. Izzo also became just the second coach in NCAA history to reach four Final Fours in his first 10 years of coaching, joining Ohio State`s Fred Taylor, and is just the third coach in NCAA history to appear in six Final Fours in a 12-year span, and just the second since the tournament expanded to 64 teams. His six Final Four appearances rank tied for fifth all-time, third among active coaches and first all-time among Big Ten coaches, having most recently passed former Indiana head coach Bob Knight.

Through 16 seasons, Izzo is already one of the most successful coaches in Big Ten history. His .683 winning percentage in Big Ten games ranks fourth all-time among league coaches with at least 10 years of service. In all games, Izzo also ranks fourth (.704). With 183 conference victories, Izzo ranks sixth all-time. Furthermore, Izzo brings stability to Michigan State basketball. The 2011-12 season will be Izzo`s 29th with the Spartans. He is the longest serving active Big Ten men`s basketball head coach. He is also a leader among his peers, serving as the NABC President from April 2010-April 2011, while also serving on the John R. Wooden Award Board of Governors and the USA Basketball Collegiate Committee.

Izzo is an active volunteer in his community. Among his many efforts, he is very active with Coaches Vs. Cancer, Sparrow Hospital, the Jimmy "V" Foundation and the Catholic Social Services/St. Vincent Home for Children in Lansing. In 2009, Izzo was presented the Coaches Vs. Cancer Champion Award, recognizing his work and leadership in the fight to save lives from cancer.

Izzo was born January 30, 1955. His family includes his wife, Lupe, daughter, Raquel, and son, Steven.