Tom Izzo is “disgusted” by the administrative drama at Michigan State.
The storied college basketball coach commented on the on-campus turmoil that led to the recent departure of the university’s president and athletic director.
“I can’t stand what’s going on,” the longtime MSU men’s basketball coach told reporters. “I’ve had it. This is self-inflicted. We just lost the best president to ever be here, maybe. One of the best.
“I’m very upset about it, and I’m sick of it.”
Michigan State’s president, Kevin Guskiewicz, left for a job at Clemson after just two years with the Spartans. He cited clashes and unrest within the board of trustees as a reason for the departure.
“At times, too much energy has been spent revisiting past conflicts and internal disagreements rather than focusing collectively on the opportunities and aspirations ahead of us,” Guskiewicz wrote in a letter in May.
Two weeks later, Michigan State athletic director J Batt also left in a lateral move to Kentucky.
Izzo, who has led the Michigan State men’s basketball team since 1995 after 12 years as an assistant at the school, called for Michigan State’s large alumni base to “start rallying together.”
“What happened with our president is ridiculous,” Izzo said. “He said it, we know the reasons, and I’m ashamed and disgusted, hurt.
“Spartan Nation better stand up, all 600,000 of them.”
Guskiewicz will remain in East Lansing until an interim president or permanent replacement is found. He will also work on an interim basis for Batt before he leaves for Clemson.
Michigan State is now looking for its fourth athletic director since 2021 and its fourth president since ’22.
“There’s other dominoes that get affected when things go wrong like that,” Izzo said. “I’m very upset about it, and I’m sick of it.”
