Tom Izzo of Michigan State Is Greatness Defined

It's not just the great players that have graced Michigan State's basketball program that make it incredibly special.

It's not the fact that Tom Izzo has sent 12 players to the NBA, or the fact that he's coached six All-Americans. 

Consecutive sell-outs at the Breslin Center aren't contingent on who's playing for Michigan State, it's who's coaching the Spartans that draws the crowd.

Perhaps the native of Michigan's nether-region, Iron Mountain, has the secret formula when it comes to building a college basketball dynasty. Jud Heathcote's under-study took over the program in 1995 and has led the Spartans to 12 consecutive NCAA Tournament berths and a National Championship (2000).

On his 55th birthday, Izzo would surpass the legendary Bobby Knight (Indiana) to become the Big Ten's all-time superior in win percentage (70.1 percent).

Five Final Fours later, Tom Izzo is on pace to lead his fifth-ranked Spartans (19-3, 9-0) to its sixth.

The four-time National Coach of the Year is Spartan basketball.

He has won 73 percent of his tournament games which ranks fifth among active coaches with at least 10 appearances.

Izzo is a defensive mastermind who took the reigns of a once average program and turned it into one of the nation's elite—something he seldom takes credit for.

With modest beginnings as a high school coach, Izzo quickly climbed the ladder to national prominence. In 1983 he was named Heathcote's assistant and under his mentor, gained the necessary experience to eventually take over the program.

Izzo has passed his idol to become the winningest coach in Spartan history and continues to cement his legacy as one of the greatest men to grace a college court-side. When it's all said and done Izzo will be recognized alongside the likes of Dean Smith, Roy Williams, Mike Krzyzewski, and John Wooden (just to name a few).

Izzo is more than a coach, he's been a father figure to such players as Morris Peterson and Mateen Cleaves. His relationship with Cleaves is such that he named his son after him (middle name). If that doesn't convey the message of love and commitment that Izzo has for Spartan basketball, what else could?

In the day and age of the fly-by-night coach, it's refreshing to see a man that has such reverence for his program and players.

Why do young men come from far-and-wide to play their college ball at Michigan State?

Could it be that Michigan State is known as a potential spring-board for NBA careers?

The intense rivalry with other Big Ten schools?  

Or was it because of the legend of Magic Johnson?

No, couldn't be.

Ask the Shawn Resperts, Eric Snows, and Drew Neitzels why they chose MSU.

Ask the Charlie Bells, Kalin Lucas', and Paul Davis' why they signed with State.

They'll tell you it wasn't because of the uniform's green and white color scheme with the Spartan logo on the shorts. It wasn't even the fact that would get to play in front of sold-out crowds on a nightly basis. They'll tell you it came down to one factor—Tom Izzo.

Izzo's accolades

Four-time National Coach of the Year

Two-time Big Ten Coach of the Year (1998, 2009)

12 consecutive NCAA Tournament bids (1998-2009)

Five Final Fours (1999-2001, 2005, 2009)

Five Big Ten Championships (1998-2001, 2009)

27 years of service at Michigan State

Countless community and individual achievements.