Michigan State men's basketball coach Tom Izzo. Drew Kochanny/USA-Today Network / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Michigan State's Tom Izzo sounds fired up to keep coaching

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated 10/17/24

Tom Izzo is entering his 30th season as a college basketball head coach, all with the Michigan State Spartans.

He's been pretty darn good at his job as well. Heading into season 30, Izzo has a 707-295 overall record, which is good for a .706% win-loss percentage. He's a three-time Big Ten Coach of the Year and has taken Michigan State to eight Final Fours, winning it all in 1999-00.

Izzo is an absolute legend, but at 69 years old and facing a college basketball environment that has become less than ideal with NIL deals, transfer portals and one-and-done ruling the roost, it wouldn't be surprising if the MSU legend felt like he was near the end of his career.

Speaking to the media on Thursday, though, Izzo sounded anything but tired. In fact, he sounds fired up.

"I am not thrilled with where the profession is. I am thrilled with where my team, where my players and where I am," Izzo said according to Spartan Illustrated. "And I am thrilled about where I think the University is going."

Sounds like Izzo isn't retiring any time soon... pic.twitter.com/vV3hHJ7LNy
— Spartans Illustrated (@SpartansRivals) October 17, 2024

Sure, the challenges of the college basketball world in 2024 may be a bit dauting, and that's not even factoring in the new-look Big Ten, but Izzo seems to be more than up to that challenge.

He's still a good coach and a solid recruiter, and he seems to think some of his best years are still ahead of him.

"I'm really looking forward [to] I won't say to the next 30 years....even though I kind of am since I'd be my mother's age then and she looks damn good for her age. I always said that women are 39 forever. Once you get 90 then you can start talking about your real age. She's 98. I figure I got a lot of years ahead of me," Izzo explained. "Not that many to coach, but the ones that I have to coach I'm pretty excited about.

"I really am."

More must-reads: