"I'll never ever give up Division II days": Tom Izzo recounts humble beginnings, says college sports 'right now is Disneyland'
Being the longest-tenured active coach in Division I basketball (29 years), Tom Izzo understands the benefits of submitting oneself to the process. The Michigan State Spartans coach reflected on the same in an episode of "In Depth With Graham Bensinger." In a snippet posted on Instagram, Izzo talks about the significance of his journey to the coaching world.
"The process is where the biggest lessons are learned," Izzo said. "And so many people are skipping the process. And you know people say, 'Well, that's old school,' and I would say, 'No, that's right school.'
"I don't begrudge anybody who can get there on a faster track, but I'll never ever give up the GA days, the Division II days. I mean, I think that working in my dad's shop from when I was 12, I think those things help me."
Moreover, Tom Izzo also touched on the current Division I landscape. He cited the reasons that make college basketball more welcoming in comparison to his earlier years as a coach.
"So I feel bad for the guys who just come up and all of a sudden real world hits them, 'cause this is Disney world now," Izzo said. "College sports right now, its kind of Disneyland. You're flying on private planes, you eat what you want, you live where you want. Now, you're getting paid, I mean, it's Disneyland."
Looking back at Tom Izzo's days working for his father, and as a GA and D2 coach
Growing up in Iron Mountain, Michigan, Tom Izzo helped in his father’s business, which involved repairing shoes and installing awnings and carpets. Izzo was employed in the family business from sixth grade to his sophomore year at Northern Michigan University.
After his playing time at NMU, Izzo returned to Northern Michigan University as an assistant coach in 1979, which competed on a Division II level. He was with the program for three years, learning aspects like recruiting and developing players.
Izzo joined the University of Michigan men's basketball program as a graduate assistant in 1983 on Jud Heathcote’s staff. The GA role was integral to his overall career, as he had faced three rejections for a head coaching position. While his role was not glamorous, it allowed Izzo to learn the fundamentals of Division I and understand the behind-the-scenes of running a program.