Former Michigan State basketball coach Jud Heathcote dies at age 90

Longtime Michigan State men’s basketball coach Jud Heathcote has died at the age of 90, the school announced Monday. He is best known for coaching Magic Johnson and the Spartans to the national championship in 1979, when they beat Larry Bird and Indiana State for the title.

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo released a statement praising Heathcote as “one of the most influential people in my life.” Izzo took the reins to the program from Heathcote in 1995 when the latter retired from coaching.

Here’s the full statement from Izzo.

“The basketball world is a sadder place today with the passing of Jud Heathcote. No one cared more about the welfare of the game than Jud. He was a coach’s coach and a mentor to many. Our hearts are filled with sadness and deepest sympathy for his wife Beverly and the Heathcote family.

Without a doubt, he was one of the most influential people in my life, giving me a chance when no one else would. Any coaching success I’ve ever had is because of him. Long after he left Michigan State, he was still one of the first people I would call when I had a tough decision in coaching or life.

Michigan State has lost one of its icons today. And yet, nothing can erase his impact on the program, the players he coached and the coaches he mentored. Spartan basketball is what it is today because of Jud Heathcote.”

Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis also released a statement in which he called Heathcote “among the best teachers I had the opportunity to be around.”

The Spartans hired Heathcote to be their head coach in 1976 after he spent five seasons at Montana, which included two Big Sky conference titles. After a losing debut season in East Lansing, the team added a talented young freshman named Earvin “Magic” Johnson in 1977, went 25-5, and reached the Elite Eight the next year.

Then came the highlight of Heathcote’s career in 1979, when he led Johnson and the Spartans to a 26-6 record and the national championship. Indiana State entered the title game unbeaten behind Bird, but Michigan State ended its run with a 75-64 win.

Heathcote completed his time at Michigan State with a 339-221 overall record and nine NCAA tournament appearances. His teams reached the Sweet 16 in 1986 and 1990. Other than Johnson, prominent players under Heathcote at MSU included Kevin Willis, Scott Skiles, Steve Smith, and Eric Snow.