{"product_id":"tom-izzo-michigan-state-basketball","title":"Tom Izzo - Michigan State Basketball","description":"\u003cp\u003eTom Izzo began his coaching career at Michigan State  in 1983 as a Graduate Student Assistant coach working for Jud Heathcote.  He had just completed four years as an Assistant Coach at Northern Michigan University.  That first year he lived in Jud's basement in East Lansing since he couldn't afford his own place.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1986 he left for a brief period to become an Assistant Coach at University of Tulsa.  He returned to MSU before the season started when a full time coaching role opened up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen Jud Heathcote  retired in 1995 Michigan State named Izzo Head Coach,  a position he enjoys to this day.  His team beat Florida in the 2000 NCAA Championship game for MSU's second national title.  He is currently the longest tenured coach in Big Ten history as well as it's winningest coach \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese quotes came from interviews before the recent complexities of Transfer Portals and NIL Payments complicated NCAA Coaching and Recruiting.  Izzo has been an outspoken  advocate for reform over these issues\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDrawing and Calligraphy by me in August 2025\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e11\" x 14\" Numbered Print on Archival Quality, Acid Free 110lb. Paper\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"VanDuzerArt","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48219853750403,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0752\/0531\/2643\/files\/Tom-Izzo-MSU-1056x1344-96dpi.jpg?v=1789484711","url":"https:\/\/shop.vanduzerart.com\/products\/tom-izzo-michigan-state-basketball","provider":"VanDuzerArt","version":"1.0","type":"link"}