Tom Izzo

Tom Izzo has always been known as a classy coach. He has always been someone who has played by the rules, recruited with vigor, and coaches with heart. He is a role model for his players and colleagues, and is one of the most noticeable names in all Big Ten sports.  He is one of the definitive Michigan State icons.

Here’s some numbers to throw at you: 1 national championship. 11 straight NCAA tournament appearances. Five Final Four appearances this decade. 7 players with All-American status. 15 All Big Ten players. A stable of coaches that learned from him that are successful Division 1 coaches. 11 players that have played in the NBA.

And it could all go away.

Why? Well, the rumors have turned from whispers into in your face questions as Kentucky fired Billy Gillispie, and the focus has shifted in terms of filling the vacancy to Izzo. Kentucky is known as one of the crown jewel’s of college basketball, and Izzo certainly has earned the position tenfold. The question is–will he?

There have been many coaches that have said that they aren’t going anywhere (i.e. Bill Self at Illinois) only to end up at greener pastures. But while some of the coaching positions remain absolutely golden–Kansas, Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina, UCLA–I think that Izzo is making Michigan State one of those prized schools. He is the face of Michigan State, the hope of a conference, the statesman of college basketball. Yes,  it would be a great opportunity, but Izzo isn’t about opportunity–he is a man of loyalty, and I think the only way he leaves Michigan State is by retirement. If he leaves, it will be one of the more shocking things I have ever seen in college basketball.

But stranger things have happened…