Overview
- Izzo, in a Wednesday interview on the Dan Patrick Show, confirmed he "talked seriously" with Suns owner and former Spartans player Mat Ishbia about Phoenix's 2025–26 head-coaching opening.
- He called the chance "hard" to turn down because of his bond with Ishbia, yet he chose to stay at Michigan State for a 31st season and beyond.
- Izzo said he dislikes where college athletics is headed and claimed "99.8 percent" of football and basketball coaches share that view, pointing to the transfer portal and name-image-likeness money as key pressures.
- Phoenix has churned through coaches, entering 2025–26 with its fourth in four seasons after hiring Jordon Ott following brief runs by Frank Vogel and Mike Budenholzer.
- The talks echoed 2010, when fellow Michigan State alum Dan Gilbert courted Izzo to coach the Cavaliers before Izzo declined and remained in East Lansing.