Tom Izzo thinks every coach that could get fired is the best coach

Tom Izzo is the ultimate coach’s coach. Despite the fact that Indiana coach Tom Crean’s teams have massively underperformed over the past few years, Izzo was quick to defend his friend in the press conference following Michigan State’s win over the Hoosiers on Saturday:

“Am I a little frustrated with it? Yeah I am. Do I think he’s a hell of a coach? Yes I do.”

He also put the blame for IU’s off-court issues on the the players, not on Crean.

This isn’t necessarily a surprise, as Crean was an assistant under Izzo in the 90s. However, Izzo does this for literally every single coach he knows who gets fired. He gives a powerful, fiery quote, blames the school that fires (or is thinking about firing) his friend and bemoans firings that are often highly understandable.

Here’s a sampling:

When Bruce Weber was fired by Illinois, Izzo spent his Big Ten Tournament press conference going to bat for Weber.

“I think it’s ridiculous the way that thing was handled. And if I take abuse for that, I really don’t care, because I’m also president of our (coaches) association. This isn’t about a friendship. This is about a profession. And whenever you’re in an organization ... the only way you can be successful is if the top to bottom, from the president to the trainer are all on the same page.”

When Northwestern coach Bill Carmody was fired, Izzo couldn’t believe the school would fire a coach who never made the NCAA Tournament in over a decade.

”I called him this morning. It saddens me, sickens me.

...

“But poor guy, about two or three times I thought had teams that were going to get to the NCAA Tournament, and then the injuries just mounted up, and this year’s was almost - it was incredible. So I feel bad. I hope he stays in coaching because he is a hell of a coach.”

Tubby Smith’s firing was also personal for Izzo, as Smith was a friend of his.

“He’s a hell of a coach and a hell of a guy, it will be a loss for this league, and a loss for college basketball if he doesn’t stay in it, because he’s got integrity beyond belief. And let me tell you, he’s been in some tough situations.”

And within the answer about Smith, Izzo also spoke up for Ben Howland.

”Ben Howland (fired at UCLA), I was a little upset last night because I think in all fairness, on these social media, I can’t have a press conference without doing it, or I get on reporters, I was very upset...like Bill Walton, I thought that was a personal attack on somebody. Like if you guys give opinion attacks, that’s one thing. When they get personal, that’s another in my mind.

Izzo also called the firing of struggling Iowa coach Todd Lickliter “disgusting.”

“It’s an amazing world I live in. I mean, I don’t know Todd that well, to be very honest with you. But I know this: He’s a quality guy. He doesn’t cheat. He does it the right way. I feel sorry for some of these guys as I did Tommy Amaker, as I did Dan Monson, as I do Tom Crean a little bit. Guys that take over programs that have been decimated with crap.”

...

“I’m not gonna say anything insulting about anybody else’s administration, but (the Iowa firing) is not because of lack of work, lack of effort or cheating, I guarantee you that. Unless there’s something I don’t know. And yeah, that bothers me some. ... I’d heard a rumor that they were thinking it and I just blew it off, like ‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’ And I think for what he had and the injuries he went through and the suspensions with the alcohol problem and all the things they had, I thought he did a hell of a job to be honest with you.”

Even rival Tommy Amaker, of Michigan, got the Izzo compliment treatment.

“I think if our profession’s getting to the point where you win 20 games and you’re getting fired, I think it’s sad. And I think, not to take a knock at anybody, but administrations better look at, they want coaches to perform miracles, then administrations have to do the same. And I’m not sure, in fairness to him after the mess he took over, that was done.”

So yes, Tom Izzo thinks Tom Crean is a great coach, but Tom Izzo thinks pretty much everyone is a great coach. He might be a future hall of famer, but at this point, his endorsement doesn’t mean much.