Tom Izzo addresses future in coaching

Tom Izzo has become one of college basketball’s elder statesmen due to some of the decisions around the sport. With some major retirements across the country the last few seasons, the 67-year-old Izzo has moved closer to the front of the line as who people anticipate will be the next coach who calls it a career. However, he himself suggested that there’s a lot left for him to accomplish this week at Big Ten Media Days.

Izzo spoke on his future at Michigan State during his press conference in Minneapolis on Wednesday. Even after all he’s done with the Spartans, he still believes there’s a lot to still accomplish in East Lansing.

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“We have to win another Big Ten championship. ‘We’ meaning Michigan State, but ‘we’ meaning the Big Ten. I think there’s some exciting things that are happening with our league on campus,” said Izzo. “Our new athletic director, Alan Haller, and Mel Tucker, I think we got some great things there to build on.”

Izzo remains one of the country’s elite coaches as he enters his 28th season with the Spartans. He has a career 71.4% win percentage, is consistently a contender in the Big Ten and NCAA Tournament, and has a title to his name. However, Michigan State hasn’t won the conference regular season in two years or the Big Ten Tournament in three. Before he goes, he will likely want to add to his combined 16 conference titles.

However, he also wants to continue to help the Big Ten grow alongside Michigan State. It has proven to be one of, if not the, best basketball conference in the country. After nine teams made the NCAA Tournament last season, he thinks the conference can officially stake their claim as that moving forward with his continued help.

“I’d like to make our university better, my program better,” Izzo said. “I’ve been in this league so long that I’d like to continue to grow the Big Ten into what could be, I think is the greatest basketball (conference), but I think could be the greatest conference in the country in all sports.”

It doesn’t sound like Izzo is ready to retire just yet, especially with so many boxes left to check off. With plenty still left to do in Izzo’s mind, Michigan State, the Big Ten, and college basketball won’t be getting rid of one of their all-time greats that easily.