Tom Izzo Is a Michigan State Spartan for Life Despite Oregon Coaching Rumors

Every year it seems to happen. Some team watches another outstanding performance by the Michigan State Spartans in the NCAA tournament and they think they can whisk the humble coach away to greener pastures.

But for Tom Izzo, a native of Iron Mountain, there are no greener pastures than Michigan State.

As Izzo prepares his team for its sixth Final Four appearance in the past 12 years, his preparation is momentarily interrupted by reporters wanting to know if Oregon has contacted him about its head coaching vacancy.

No, says Izzo, they haven’t contacted him, and he basically tells them to save their breath.

"I have a job to do," he said Monday, according to ESPN.com, "and I'm happy with the job I have."

An Oregon TV station reported Monday that Oregon officials are ready to offer Izzo the richest coaching contract in college basketball history.

Currently, John Calipari’s $31.65 million, eight-year contract is the richest known deal in college basketball. However, private schools like Duke are not required to reveal what their coaches get paid.

Even if Oregon were to double Izzo’s current $3 million per year salary, though, there is simply no way the man would leave.

Simply put, Tom Izzo has been a Spartan for 30 years, and a Spartan he will remain for life. He is not now, nor will he ever be, a Duck.

For one thing, Izzo and his family have plenty of money. For another, if he had really ever wanted to leave, he could have done so multiple times before.

So why would he leave now?

Perhaps the better question might be whether Izzo will use this to get a raise on his existing contract that runs through 2016.

Look, the man isn’t a martyr, for heaven’s sake. He is human, after all, so don’t be surprised if he refuses to outright dismiss the rumors, but it’s not because he has any genuine interest.

Izzo loves Michigan St. and Michigan St. loves him. He is proud of the program he has built and he has complete autonomy there.

Brand new basketball facility, Nike backing you, the lure of being the highest paid coach in college basketball? Meh.

The intrigue and challenge of building a new program? Now that is about the only reason I could see a guy like Izzo leaving, and there have been no indications that Izzo wants that challenge.

Meanwhile, Mark Few seems to be the consensus choice of many Oregon fans, and that is far more realistic.

But Izzo? Nothing more than a pipe dream. Oregon is a fine program, but if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck...it’s still a Duck.