Michigan State's Tom Izzo Receives Substantial Pay Raise
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Michigan State's legendary head coach is getting a raise.
Tom Izzo and the school agreed to an amendment in his contract on Friday, which ultimately gave Izzo a $1 million pay bump. It raises his overall salary to about $7.2 million, the highest among men's basketball coaches in the Big Ten.
"Coach Izzo is the ultimate Spartan – someone whose work ethic and devotion to our student-athletes, this university and the broader MSU community are unmatched," said MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz in a statement. "We believe deeply in his ability to uphold our values, develop champions, and continue building one of college basketball's premier programs, all while serving as a trusted university ambassador. Michigan State will benefit from his leadership for many more years."
Izzo, who turns 71 next month, is in the midst of his 31st year as the Spartans' head coach. Michigan State is 8-1 this season, headed into a Saturday matchup against Penn State, and is ranked ninth in the country. He's the winningest coach in Big Ten history, with a career 745-303 record (.711).
More on Izzo, Future
"I'm incredibly appreciative of the continued support from the Board of Trustees, President Guskiewicz and AD Batt," Izzo said in the same statement. "With strong leadership and positive momentum throughout the University and the department, the pieces are in place for sustained success, and I'm as energized as ever to chase championships."
Come March, Izzo's team is likely to qualify for the field for the 28th consecutive time --- really 29, since the 2019-20 team finished ninth in the AP Poll, but the tournament was canceled due to COVID-19. During those appearances, Izzo won the 2000 national championship and made the Final Four eight total times. He's also won 17 combined Big Ten regular season (11) and tournament (6) titles. Izzo was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016.
"Coach Izzo is one of the greatest coaches in the history of college athletics," athletic director J Batt said. "His list of championships and honors is amazing, but his true legacy will be the impact he's had, first and foremost, on his student-athletes, as well as Spartans everywhere. He cares deeply about our University and our community, and is always willing to do whatever is asked of him to advance MSU.
"Despite his impressive collection of accolades, he continues pushing his Spartans to accomplish more. Since the summer we've been discussing how we elevate the program to even greater heights in our new landscape. This new contract not only celebrates his legacy, it displays the department's commitment to doing all we can to support him and the program's championship dreams for years to come."
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A 2025 graduate from Michigan State University, Cotsonika brings a wealth of experience covering the Spartans from Rivals and On3 to his role as Michigan State Spartans Beat Writer on SI. At Michigan State, he was also a member of the world-renowned Spartan marching band for two seasons.
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