Michigan State's Tom Izzo Says He Doesn't Plan to Retire After 2023-24 CBB Season | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
Mia Lopez Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo isn't intending to step away from his post upon the conclusion of the 2023-24 season.
"I'm healthy. I love my job," he said to CBSSports.com's Matt Norlander.
The Spartans are off to a 10-7 start, which has some questioning their chances of making the NCAA tournament. Izzo also acknowledged to Norlander the evolving landscape of college sports has presented a challenge.
The 68-year-old said he still hasn't lost his competitive fire, though.
"I'm too stubborn to even think about doing it in the near future because I almost want to fight the system," he said. "And the system might get me. The system may get me. But the system may not get me, either."
Izzo referenced his son's appearance in Sunday's 73-55 win over Rutgers as one of the small moments that's helping him want to keep coaching. Steven Izzo scored on a three-point play in the final minute, a moment that brought the bench and the home crowd to their feet.
Michigan State Men's Basketball @MSU_BasketballMemories that will last a lifetime 💚 <a href="">
Michigan State Men's Basketball @MSU_Basketball"I often think when I see him out there, I would have given my left and right arm just to run out the tunnel at a place like Michigan State. I never got a chance to do that, but sometimes you get to live your own dreams through somebody else." <a href="">
Izzo has achieved to much to think he'd ever get fired by Michigan State, but the program's slide is impossible to ignore. The Spartans have 13 losses in each of the last three seasons, and they're on pace to go past that number this year.
The Hall of Fame coach has watched some of his contemporaries ease their way into retirement as well. Roy Williams stepped down in 2021, with Mike Krzyzewski following him in 2022. Then came the retirement of Jim Boeheim last March. Nick Saban's recent resignation from Alabama sent shockwaves across college football.
One couldn't blame Izzo for looking around and questioning his own future. But he obviously has no intentions of doing that for the time being.
