Michigan State’s Tom Izzo Reveals State of College Athletics Nearly Pushed Him to Take NBA Coaching Job

Izzo revealed that he was heavily pursued for the head coaching opening with the Phoenix Suns.

Tom Izzo nearly took an NBA job a year ago due to the state of college athletics. | Eric Seals / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo has not been shy about voicing his opinions about the state of college athletics.

The longtime Spartans men’s basketball coach has frequently voiced his opinions about what needs to change with NIL and the transfer portal, with the belief that the current state of affairs in college basketball are not doing right by the student-athletes.

Another coach who has voiced similar concerns is UConn’s Dan Hurley, who just beat Michigan State in the Sweet 16 to knock the Spartans out of the NCAA tournament. Hurley, a two-time national championship coach, has called Izzo a mentor in the profession, and leaned on the Michigan State coach when he considered taking the head coaching job with the Lakers two years ago, fresh off a second title.

Izzo told Dan Patrick on Wednesday what he told Hurley at the time when he was seriously considering a jump to the NBA.

“Well, I didn’t want to lose him in college basketball because I think he’s so good for it, but I did say that we need to keep an eye on what’s happening in our profession,” Izzo began. “I don’t know what I’d do if it was today. He had the chance a year or two ago and I think things are so crazy in college athletics right now…I don’t know if I’d feel different if I was to be very honest with you because I think something has to be done with the insanity we’re going through, but I don’t think anyone else cares so I’ll keep plucking along and see if I can get to a Final Four again.”

When Patrick asked Izzo what he would do if he was offered a job in the NBA now, the Michigan State coach revealed that he was pursued just last year at the NBA level for the opening with the Suns.

“I was a lot younger but I’ve had more than a couple of job offers in the NBA and looked at one last year with Phoenix,” Izzo added. “[With] my former player Mat Ishbia. That was hard, that was a hard thing to turn down. …We talked seriously about it, let’s say that. I’ve been pretty vocal about it, I don’t like what’s going on in college athletics. But by the way, neither do 99.8% of the football and basketball coaches in America and I think the kids are still going to find out before it’s done that it’s not best for them either. But in the meantime, you gotta do what you gotta do, and I’ll let guys like you call me old school, but that means you’re old school too. But I think we’re both right school and we’ll see what happens.”

Michigan State HC Tom Izzo reveals he was in talks with the Phoenix #Suns:

"I've had more than a couple job offers in the NBA, looked at one last year with Phoenix – my former player Mat Ishbia. That was hard, that was a hard thing to turn down... we talked seriously about it." pic.twitter.com/kjSIJreIWz

— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) April 1, 2026

It’s hard to imagine Izzo making a jump to the NBA at this stage of his career. Even so, it makes sense that he seriously considered a position to work under his former player in Ishbia, who owns the franchise.

Even so, Izzo decided to remain in East Lansing, where he will likely finish his career as both a Hall of Fame coach and great ambassador for the sport.

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