Friday, March 29, 2024

MSU men's basketball coach Tom Izzo, wife donate $1M to MSU Athletics

October 10, 2011
Head coach Tom Izzo calls out to his team Thursday at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Spartans defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes, 66-61, in their first game in the 2011 Big Ten Tournament. Matt Radick/The State News
Head coach Tom Izzo calls out to his team Thursday at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Spartans defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes, 66-61, in their first game in the 2011 Big Ten Tournament. Matt Radick/The State News —
Photo by Matt Radick | and Matt Radick The State News

MSU men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo and his wife Lupe donated $1 million to the MSU Athletics Department, a release from the athletics department said Monday.

The donation, one of the largest ever by an active coach at any university, will benefit several areas within the department.

The majority of the funds will benefit the football program, with none going toward the basketball program.

“Supporting the football team was an easy decision,” Izzo said in the release. “(Head) Coach (Mark) Dantonio is a man of character, building a championship program. But what makes football special is that it truly benefits everyone across the university. Spearheaded by football’s success, there is great momentum throughout all programs.”

Other funds will be divided to projects such as the MSU Spartan Marching Band and Olympic sports at MSU.

“Both Tom and Lupe Izzo have been energetic supporters of this institution and this community,” MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon said in the release. “Spartans know that Tom is truly exceptional because he’s far more than a great coach. He embodies the hardworking excellence at the core of the Team MSU ethos, and the Izzos’ generous gift will help us pursue that ideal for all our student-athletes.”

Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.

Discussion

Share and discuss “MSU men's basketball coach Tom Izzo, wife donate $1M to MSU Athletics” on social media.