Tom Izzo Shuts Down Retirement Rumors After MSU's March Madness Exit in Loss to UConn

Despite a heartbreaking end to the season for Michigan State, Tom Izzo doesn't sound like he's planning on retiring anytime soon.

Asked about his future after the Spartans' 67-63 loss to Connecticut in the Sweet 16 on Friday, Izzo said he will be "trying to win a national championship" five years from now.

Michigan State at one point erased a 19-point deficit, but it was unable to close things out to get the win and reach the Elite Eight for the second consecutive year.

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Izzo expanded on his thoughts about retirement and why, even now at the age of 71, it's not something that interests him:

"We all talk about retirement. Why? What the hell am I going to do? The minute I don't feel good, the minute I don't feel like I'm giving my AD or president or school every ounce of energy I have every day or that energy drops, you don't have to worry about it. I don't steal money. I won't steal anybody's time."

There's been nothing to suggest that Izzo was thinking about walking away after just wrapping up his 31st season with the Spartans. He's tied with Tennessee's Rick Barnes for the second-oldest active head coach in Division I.

Only Rick Pitino at 73 is older than Izzo. None of these coaches seem like they are losing a step. Pitino, Izzo and Barnes all coached on Friday night in the Sweet 16, with Barnes' team being the only one to win and advance.

Greg Kampe, who just wrapped up his 42nd season at Oakland, is the only active Division I men's coach who has been at the same school longer than Izzo.

Izzo has led the Spartans to 57 combined wins since the start of 2024-25, their most over a two-year span since 2017-18 and 2018-19 (62). They have won at least two tournament games in three of the last four years.