East Lansing, MI — In a fitting tribute to a living legend, Tom Izzo, head coach of the Michigan State Spartans men’s basketball team, will be honored by ESPN at the 2025 ESPY Awards for his lifetime of brilliance, leadership, and revolutionary impact on collegiate basketball. The honor is more than just a professional achievement; it’s a celebration of a legacy based on grit, loyalty, and an unwavering dedication to the student-athletes he’s coached for three decades.
Tom Izzo is more than a coach to Spartan Nation and the rest of the collegiate athletics world. Since taking over at Michigan State in 1995, Izzo has guided the Spartans to eight Final Four appearances, a national championship in 2000, 10 Big 10 titles, and more than 700 career victories. He is one of the few coaches who has earned the respect of generations of players, peers, and fans while remaining true to his basic ideals of toughness, accountability, and team-first basketball.
“Coach Izzo is college basketball,” explained an ESPN spokesperson. “His influence extends well beyond wins. He’s created a culture, mentored men, and remained strongly committed to his vision and beliefs in an era marked by change.”
The ESPY Award recognizes not just Izzo’s winning record, but also his profound and long-lasting impact off the court. Izzo, known for his emotional sincerity, rigorous work ethic, and unflinching support of his players, has long been credited with developing not only NBA talent but also excellent human beings. His players see him as a second father, a mentor who pushes them because he believes in them even more.
“What makes Coach Izzo great isn’t just his knowledge of the game,” stated NBA champion and former Spartan Draymond Green. “This is how he prepares you for life. He tells you the truth, even when it is difficult. He holds you accountable. And he will never cease believing in you.”
In recent years, Izzo has become a forceful voice in the advancement of collegiate athletics, advocating for intelligent approaches to NIL, mental health awareness, and the transfer portal. Despite the changing landscape, he has kept Michigan State at the forefront of competitive basketball while upholding the traditions that define Spartan excellence.
The ESPYS tribute to Izzo will include interviews with past players, rival coaches, and family members, charting his rise from youthful assistant in Iron Mountain, Michigan, to one of the most revered coaches in NCAA history. It’s a rare limelight moment for a man who has spent his entire life prioritizing the team before himself.
As he prepares for another Final Four appearance this season, Tom Izzo remains a symbol of everything that is still good in collegiate sports: honor, modesty, and heart.
Congratulations to Coach Izzo. You have improved the game of basketball, as well as the globe as a whole. Spartan Nation could not be more proud.