Tom Izzo is not ready to put away his clipboard just yet.
The Michigan State head coach had the spotlight on him after his Spartans fell short in the Sweet 16 against UConn at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. Izzo candidly addressed questions about his plans for retirement following the 67-63 Michigan State defeat and latest exit from the NCAA Tournament.
Izzo made it clear in front of a sea of reporters that his retirement is “sure as hell not going to be now.”
“I’m feeling good. … The minute I don’t feel good, the minute I don’t feel like I’m giving my AD, or president, or school every ounce of energy I have every day, or that energy drops, you won’t have to worry about it. I don’t steal money. I won’t steal anybody’s time. But it’s sure as hell not going to be now. I’ve got some things to accomplish,” Izzo said.
“I said a couple of years ago that I’ll find a way to get back [to the national championship stage]. We’ve knocked on the door twice, we haven’t gotten back. We’ll get back.”
Friday’s result marked seven seasons since Michigan State last played in the Final Four. The last time the Spartans reached the title game was in 2008-09, when Draymond Green was still a seldom-used freshman in East Lansing.
Izzo won it all with Michigan in 2000, his fifth season with the team, and he’s been searching for a way to get back to the March Madness mountaintop ever since.
A 71-year-old Izzo will be back and ready for his 32nd season atop Michigan State’s program come November.
