EAST LANSING, Mich. (WOOD) — If there’s any doubt about the impact Tom Izzo has had on the Michigan State basketball program, a walk through the Tom Izzo Hall of History at the Breslin Center serves as a reminder.
The hall has a list of his many accomplishments and championships. In 2024, he reaches another milestone: 30 years as the head coach.
When asked what’s different about his coaching style now compared to his first season with the team, Izzo didn’t hesitate to answer.
“I’ve gotten soft. I let everyone make me soft. I’m so looking forward to Monday and Tuesday,” Izzo joked. “Because Monday and Tuesday, there’s no school. We’re having two-a-days. Those are like illegal now.”
Someone who can speak to that difference is Jase Richardson, whose dad, Jason, played under Izzo over 20 years ago.
“My dad says he used to be a lot tougher than he is now,” the freshman said. “He’s still tough on us. Every single practice you’re going to hear him yelling at somebody. I still feel like he’s tough on us and tries to make us do the best things.”
“I got to keep remembering what the greatest players — whether it be (Mateen) Cleaves telling me something or Magic (Johnson) telling me something — that great players want to be pushed beyond belief. So if you don’t want to be a great player, get the hell out of here. It’s pretty simple,” Izzo said. “The great players want to be pushed, the great students want to be pushed, the successful people want to be pushed. Our society has gotten soft, and so I got to make sure I find a way to adjust. I mean, it’s never going to be what it was like 20 years ago, but it shouldn’t be that much different either if you want to keep this thing at a championship caliber.”
