Iron Mountain Man
Dear Readers,
First, thank you for joining us, and spreading the word. We have been doubling our subscriptions every week, and are approaching 4,000. (The key, I believe, is the price – perfect for these tough times. As they say, you get what you pay for.) And thanks for your comments, too. One of the great advantages of blogging versus print journalism is the ability to interact with readers like you. A smart bunch, you are!
I am (technically) on vacation this week, so we don’t have audio this time. I hope the written version will suffice until I return next week.
Again, thank you!
-John U. Bacon
IRON MOUNTAIN MAN
The Michigan State men’s basketball team earned its fifth Big Ten in 12 years – and they did it the right way. They are, for my money, the single best program in the Big Ten, on and off the court – and have been, since Tom Izzo became their head coach 14 years ago.
Today Izzo is the best thing to happen to MSU since Biggie Munn arrived on campus six decades ago to get the Spartans into the Big Ten. Izzo might even be the most popular coach in the entire state, of any sport.
But Izzo's journey to the top is a story of long odds and hard knocks, always offset by incredible tenacity and loyal support.
The key to Tom Izzo, 55, lies 585 miles all the way back to Iron Mountain, Michigan, a town of about 7,000 people built on the old iron mines in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Izzo's great-grandfather worked in those mines, and was killed in one. His grandfather was a shoe cobbler, and his dad did everything from installing carpets to fixing awnings -- and he's still doing it. TK
When Izzo’s father, Carl, was in his mid-40s, he went back to high school, not night school, to get his diploma. He graduated, then ran for president of the Iron Mountain school board -- and won.
"I've been lucky," Izzo told me of his blue-collar background. "My parents gave their kids discipline. People work hard up there, they're straight with you. You've been brought up that way, and that's the only way you know. It's in your blood."
That family tenacity helped Izzo work his way through coaching jobs at Ishpeming High School, Northern Michigan, and a 12-year stint as Jud Heathcote’s assistant at Michigan State.
After Izzo took the reins, it wasn’t clear if he was the man for the job. The Spartans finished in the bottom half of the Big Ten his first two years.
He didn’t panic, he didn’t cut corners – even while Michigan boosters paying the Wolverines. Izzo kept working – and he did something even more revolutionary: he treated recruits with respect, and told them the truth.
"He just came to me from his heart," said Mateen Cleaves, one of Izzo’s greatest stars. "He didn't tell me what I wanted to hear. He was honest with me -- andthat was very unusual.”
Izzo’s efforts paid off his third year, when the Spartans won their first Big Ten title under their new coach. And again the next. And the next. All told, Izzo’s teams have won four Big Ten titles, been to 11 straight NCAA tournaments, and made it to four Final Fours. Most impressive is his 82-percent graduation rate – despite several players leaving early for the NBA.
That helps explain why Izzo’s peers have named him the National Coach of the Year a staggering four times.
His only mistake, it seems to me, is winning so much everyone starts to take it for granted.
So, it’s time to stop, look, and listen to one of the greatest coaches this state has ever seen – while we still have the chance.
John,
Right on with this story! Tom Izzo is one of the rags to riches HEROES of our time.Today there are very few heroes but Tom is one for the ages! You are right he tells it like it is. I love the way he coaches and handles his players. Thanks again!
Sincerely,
Frank DiCristofaro
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Frank,
Obviously, I agree! They say you can't be demanding with this generation, but Izzo shows what a silly theory that is. He's certainly more of a "players' coach" than Woody, Bo or Knight ever had to be, but the bedrock Iron Mountain values are still the foundation of it all.
Thanks again, Frank!
-John
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John,
Thank you for celebrating the success of Tom Izzo. More importantly, thank you for celebrating HOW he has achieved that success - with Integrity.
My blood runs maize and blue, and still I applaud what coach Izzo has accomplished at MSU. To achieve the level of success which he and his teams have so consistently achieved, while doing it the "right way" is something to be shouted from the highest rafters. He has set a high bar for others to follow, which will make it even more satisfying when (not IF) our beloved Wolverines overtake the Spartans.
Go Blue!
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I second everyone's comments... I was an undergrad during the Fab 5 days and refused to support the BB team at the time. The college world needs more Tom Izzos.
If only the MSU football team could follow Izzo's lead (and build their own program instead of measuring themselves by their rival)... they may end up in Pasadena more than once every 20+ years.
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As you might expect, I agree. One of the more impressive aspects of Izzo's success is the patience it required -- not unlike that shown by Red Berenson in building his program.
If you're going to build it to last, it's going to take a little longer.
-JUB
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Chris,
It is amazing, with such obvious examples around -- Bo's football program, Izzo's basketball program - that the other school couldn't figure out what to do.
And, like you, I have never been impressed by the Fab Five -- not given their conduct at the time, the scandal that erupted later, nor their response to it all. Some people believe they should be celebrated, but I have to ask: For what, exactly?
-JUB
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As a little kid I won the game ball in a basketball game between Iron Mountain and my hometown team (the Gladstone Braves). Izzo and Mariucci had both touched that ball! Of course it was long gone before either of them became famous...
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Does anyone have any insight as to why Mooch didn't get the head ball coach gig instead of Dantonio?
I thought it was a no brainer when John L. was fired that Izzo would lure Mooch to East Lansing. What happened?
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M-Pharm and Chris:
Too bad about that ball! Of course, you'd need it signed for any commercial value -- but I don't think that's why you wanted to keep it. Good story.
I have NO sources on this, but my guess on Mariucci is this: Despite his close friendship with Izzo, he went to Northern, not State, so they don't really owe him anything. And, after his rough run with the Lions (though, really, can any coach be blamed for that?), his stock clearly went down. He hadn't coached college in a long time, and one thing a college coach HAS to bring to the table is discipline, which was sorely (and surprisingly, to me), lacking during Mariucci's stint in Detroit.
There are my two cents - worth exactly that.
-JUB
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John,
Great Blogs all throughout the site, by the way. Anyway, although I am not an MSU guy, I have to admit T. Izzo is a damn good coach, probably top 5 in America, and w/ his 5th Final Four, I really believe that he is underappreciated at times beacuse of how people put such high expectations on the guy and yet he still does an excellent job every single year.
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Thanks for the kind words, Ralph, and your views.
Izzo once told me that they should go 10-20 one year up there to remind people what it's like. There are times he's been a victim of his own success --though I suppose there are worse problems.
I also believe he's done some of the best coaching of his career against Louisville and U-Conn -- and if he keeps it up against UNC, they should give him his FIFTH Coach of the Year award.
-JUB
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