Tom Izzo reflects on Big Ten wins record, passing Bob Knight

The win for Michigan State over Illinois on Saturday was more than just a conference win in February. It was also a historic night for head coach Tom Izzo, who became the all-time record holder in Big Ten wins, passing the legendary Bobby Knight of Indiana with 354 wins and counting.

Following the game, Izzo took some time to reflect on that accomplishment, his career with Michigan State, and what it means to pass Knight.

“I don’t think it was an elephant on our backs,” Tom Izzo said. “It wasn’t on mine. I said it, and everybody thinks it’s humbly – he won three championships, I’d turn that in for the record any day I could turn it in.”

Bobby Knight, who recently died in 2023, had been the winningest Big Ten head coach for 36 seasons. Over the course of his entire time with Indiana, Knight went 662-239 and 353-151 in Big Ten play. During that time, he won the Big Ten 11 times and won three national championships. For his part, Tom Izzo took over at Michigan State in 1995. During that time he’s put together a record of 727-299 and 354-172 in conference play, winning one national championship along the way.

“What I am proud of, as I tell each team each year, there’s something they have to leave here with that’s different than everybody else,” Izzo said. “And this team will get to at least leave and tell their grandkids they were on the team. I remember when Mike Krzyzewski broke the [Division I wins] record, it was against me, I was the sacrificial lamb in New York. I just went down and I congratulated him. I felt honored that I played in the game. Brad [Underwood] was so classy and everything [tonight].”

Prior to Tom Izzo getting to Michigan State, the program had made the Final Four twice, winning one championship. Since getting there, Izzo has added eight Final Four appearances and another national championship. The program, today, was largely built by Izzo.

“What I’m proudest of, I think I’ve had – I looked it up a couple of weeks ago – I think I’ve had 148 players that I’ve coached that have been part of these 350-some wins. I’ve had six and seven presidents and ADs, I’ve had I think 18 assistant coaches and trainers and different people. They’re all part of this thing,” Izzo said. “But the greatest one, for me – I was impressed with the crowd tonight – I think there were six million-some, six hundred and thousand some people that helped me win 354 games. Fans. The fans in the stands. That’s what I think is building a program. I’m proud of that.”

Today, the record is Tom Izzo’s. That’s history that will likely stand for the foreseeable future, just as Bobby Knight’s record stood for decades. After all, Matt Painter is the closest active coach at 237 games won in the Big Ten, more than 100 behind Izzo’s still growing number.

“There’s some of me that says Bobby Knight deserves to have it, you know. I coached another year than him, I played probably more conference games than him. But if I can be in the same breath with him on that, that’s cool for me. I had great respect for him as a coach, and he helped me a lot in my younger days as a head coach. I’m hoping he and Jud [Heathcote] and Gus [Ganakas] and my dad are having a beer. Jud telling Bob that I didn’t play zone, and Bob telling Jud that I something else. And Gus just being happy as 10 men, because that was Gus. My dad, I’m sure he’s proud,” Izzo said.

“But it’s the players, guys, it’s the fans, it’s the presidents, it’s the ADs, it’s the people, that all made this possible for me to have a chance to accomplish something like that. I didn’t shoot, I didn’t dribble. They did it for me, and I’m so appreciative of that.”

Next, Tom Izzo and Michigan State will look to put the focus on the record behind them and play an important game in the Big Ten race this season against Purdue and Matt Painter.