Tom Izzo is now Michigan State's (interim) athletic director

Michigan State head men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo just finished his 30th season in East Lansing. The 70-year-old has won 737 games and has led the Spartans to 11 Big Ten regular-season titles, six Big Ten Tournament titles, eight Final Four appearances, and one national championship. The Hall of Fame coach has now added another job responsibility.

Michigan State relieved athletic director Alan Haler of his duties on Thursday. A new leader is needed in the MSU athletic department for the first time in four-plus years. President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D., named deputy athletic director Jennifer Smith and Tom Izzo co-interim athletic directors as the Big Ten institution begins a search for a new athletic director.

“This is a pivotal time for college athletics, where innovation, effective communications and community engagement are more important than ever,” Guskiewicz said. “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.” 

Former Kentucky head baseball coach John Cohen went from a highly successful head coach to an athletic director. Cohen has led athletic departments at Mississippi State and Auburn. The former Mississippi State head coach hired Mike Leah and Hugh Freeze in his two most recent football searches. Cohen’s hire of Chris Jans is also working at very well for Mississippi State basketball.

Could a similar pivot happen for Tom Izzo?

Former head coaches becoming athletic directors used to be a very popular move in college athletics. Vince Dooley (Georgia) and Frank Broyles (Arkansas) both went from head football coach to athletic director but that has become very uncommon with the rise of college athletics. Instead, individuals with accomplished backgrounds working in athletic departments typically receive athletic director jobs.

Will Tom Izzo land the permanent job? That seems unlikely but for now he will own a dual-role as the rare head men’s basketball coach and athletic director with revenue-sharing likely arriving to college athletics on July 1.