Michigan State's Tom Izzo reveals he 'talked seriously' with Phoenix Suns about coaching vacancy in 2025
Suns owner Mat Ishbia is a former Michigan State basketball player.
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo revealed Wednesday that he had been in talks with the Phoenix Suns about taking the team’s open head coaching job ahead of the 2025-26 season. Izzo just completed his 31st year at Michigan State as the Spartans lost to UConn in the Sweet 16 on Friday. In an interview on the Dan Patrick Show, he said that he had been discussing the Suns job with team owner and former Michigan State basketball player Mat Ishbia.
“I’ve had more than a couple job offers in the NBA, and look, that one last year with Phoenix, you know, my former player Mat Ishbia,” Izzo said. “And that was hard. That was a hard thing to turn down because number one, I kind of wanted to go with him, number two …” Patrick then interjected and asked if Izzo had been offered the job in Phoenix.
“We talked seriously about it, let’s say that,” Izzo continued. “And then number two is, I’ve been pretty vocal about it — I don’t like what’s going on in college athletics. By the way, neither do 99.
98% of the football and basketball coaches in America. And I think the kids are still going to find out before it’s done it’s not best for them, either. ” Michigan State HC Tom Izzo reveals he was in talks with the Phoenix #Suns : "I've had more than a couple job offers in the NBA, looked at one last year with Phoenix – my former player Mat Ishbia.