The Orlando Magic have “expressed interest” in hiring Michigan State coach Tom Izzo as head coach, according to The Athletic’s Michael Scotto. There’s no word yet if there will be meetings between sides, or if the Spartans legend is open to leaving the program after the most controversial season of his 22-year career.
Magic have ‘interest’ in coach Tom Izzo. Will he ever leave Michigan State for the NBA?
Izzo has been the Spartans’ head coach since 1995.
Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images
ESPN’s Outside the Lines reported in February about a “pattern of widespread denial, inaction and information suppression” relating to sexual assault allegations against Michigan State football and basketball players. In the aftermath of the report, Izzo gave perfunctory responses indicating he will cooperate with ongoing investigations and stating that he has cooperated in the past.
What is happening with the Magic?
The Magic fired their former head coach, Frank Vogel, in April after a pair of miserable seasons with little to look forward to. His team went 54-110 in those two years, with few promising pieces to build off of.
They’re in a confused state and need to right the ship with someone new at the helm. But we’ve seen teams try and fail to pluck Izzo from Michigan State before.
Izzo has rejected NBA interest before.
In 2010, Izzo turned down the Cleveland Cavaliers and the chance to coach LeBron James. LEBRON JAMES! (And this was before he gained a reputation of getting coaches fired.)
The Magic head coaching position is for someone with patience to rebuild a franchise. If he turned down The King, it’s unlikely he’d be itching to coach a struggling Orlando team.
Izzo can still make a LOT of money at MSU. Would he pass that up?
Izzo was the fifth-highest paid men’s college basketball coach in the country last season at $4,359,979, according to USA Today. In July, his contract was extended through 2024. He also has a buyout clause in his deal worth more than $5 million, according to USA Today.
With a lengthy history of regular- and postseason success, as well as top recruiting classes incoming year after year, Izzo hardly has to worry about losing his job for basketball reasons. He’s also likely to field competitive teams for the rest of his tenure. Both of those things won’t necessarily be true at the next level.
The 63-year-old has been to seven Final Fours, won a National Championship, and won eight Big Ten titles. He’s also on the verge of sending two lottery picks to the NBA.
Nobody has any idea if Izzo would even make a good NBA coach
As our own Tom Ziller said, “Why do we have hot takes about new NBA coaches when we don’t know how to judge them?”
There’s no proven history that college basketball coaches make great NBA coaches. Fred Hoiberg has struggled in Chicago, Billy Donovan has yet to find his way in Oklahoma City, and nobody has a clue if Izzo will fare better or worse than those who made the transition ahead of him. Including Izzo.
That type of job security leap of faith doesn’t seem likely for one of the most successful college basketball coaches of all time.
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