In a well-earned honor, Michigan State’s head coach Tom Izzo was named the 2025 Big Ten Coach of the Year, marking his fourth time receiving the award. The Big Ten announced its postseason accolades on Tuesday, with Michigan State’s Izzo headlining a strong showing for the Spartans.
Entering the season unranked and projected to finish fifth in the conference, Michigan State defied expectations by securing 17 regular-season conference wins—setting a new program record—and capturing the 17th Big Ten title in school history, the 11th under its legendary coach.
During a virtual interview with Big Ten Network’s Rick Pizzo, the veteran coach, true to his character, deflected the praise to his staff and players.
“If there was ever a year where this was a full team effort, this was it,” he said. “We’ve had an incredible season, and I’m grateful to my players, my assistants, and everyone who voted.”
This milestone marks his first Coach of the Year award in 13 years (previous wins: 1997-98, 2008-09, 2011-12). At 70 years old, he becomes the oldest recipient and the first in Big Ten history to win the award across four different decades—a testament to his sustained excellence.
When asked about the significance of receiving such an honor later in his career, he didn’t hold back.
“Hell yeah!” he said with a grin. “People think the game passes you by, but as long as you keep working, it never does.”
For a coach who has defined consistency and dominance, this award is just another reminder of his lasting impact on college basketball.
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