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Izzo's Successor

  • Izzo has another 5-10+ years left in him. As much as it hurts Michigan, I like him at the helm of MSU because he's a good guy; good for the state, good for basketball, etc. I'd rather him stay as long as he desires than have him forced out because of health issues. I'm just curious, is he grooming his successor right now? Is there an assistant coach that everyone assumes will follow Izzo? I can't imagine Crean would make the jump from IU to MSU, but I'm not all that educated on former Izzo assistants who have landed elsewhere.

    I'm reminded almost daily how much Michigan football's lack of a plan to succeed Carr has set the program back. I imagine that Izzo is in the process of setting someone up to follow him and create a smooth transition. I'm just curious who that is as I don't follow MSU closely enough to know their assistant coaches.

    OldWolverito

  • Dane Fife.

    Buffalo Spartan ●

  • TheStateOfBball

  • OldWolverito said...

    Izzo has another 5-10+ years left in him. As much as it hurts Michigan, I like him at the helm of MSU because he's a good guy; good for the state, good for basketball, etc. I'd rather him stay as long as he desires than have him forced out because of health issues. I'm just curious, is he grooming his successor right now? Is there an assistant coach that everyone assumes will follow Izzo? I can't imagine Crean would make the jump from IU to MSU, but I'm not all that educated on former Izzo assistants who have landed elsewhere.

    I'm reminded almost daily how much Michigan football's lack of a plan to succeed Carr has set the program back. I imagine that Izzo is in the process of setting someone up to follow him and create a smooth transition. I'm just curious who that is as I don't follow MSU closely enough to know their assistant coaches.

    I'd say that Fife is the most likely to be a "groomed" candidate, but there are quite a few guys out there from Izzo's tree that would have a shot - Garland, Heath, Montgomery (if he is successful at NIU), etc. There's always going after up-and-comers like Stevens, Smart, etc as well.

    get the new Nike MSU font: http://tinyurl.com/spartansfont

    Nutz Interface

  • Thanks for replies. Fife is what, early 30's? Assuming Izzo sticks around for 7-10 more years, he'll be 40ish, but battle tested. Probably a good age for the transition.

    OldWolverito

  • OldWolverito said...

    Thanks for replies. Fife is what, early 30's? Assuming Izzo sticks around for 7-10 more years, he'll be 40ish, but battle tested. Probably a good age for the transition.

    32 years old. Perfect age to succeed Izzo in 7-10 years.

    Buffalo Spartan ●

  • Dane Fife. Brian Gregory (now at GT, but at Dayton until recently) is also a possibility.

    HillSpartan

  • I'm high on Brian Gregory, but Fife looks like the one down the road.

    MIST

  • I think Izzo wins a national title within the next 4 years and retires. Out West there's a guy Jud has been grooming for us -- Mark Few.

    signature image

    Giant Moose ●

  • Seriously?

    The guy for the minute is Fife, but for all we know, we may have never heard of the guy who will be the next MSU coach (especially if Fife gets a job like Purdue or something/Izzo coaches for more than a decade).

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    Batesianmimicry

  • Giant Moose said...

    I think Izzo wins a national title within the next 4 years and retires. Out West there's a guy Jud has been grooming for us -- Mark Few.

    With no Midwest ties?

    Buffalo Spartan ●

  • Buffalo Spartan said...

    With no Midwest ties?

    Midwest ties aren't really that important for the hoops coach.

    signature image

    Giant Moose ●

  • I may be wrong, but I don't think we'll have Izzo for 10 more years. I am thinking much closer to 5, unfortunately.
    I also don't see Tom Crean leaving IU for another B10 school... even MSU.

    Dane Fife is an obvious choice, but what about someone like Mark Few?

    Edit: Moose beat me to the punch. I like the idea of Mark Few, even with no "midwest ties". The guy can coach, and I think he'd do well with recruiting.

    This post was edited by Phil McCrackin on 3/8/2012 at 10:42 AM

    Phil McCrackin

  • Giant Moose said...

    Midwest ties aren't really that important for the hoops coach.

    Not as important as football but I would argue with how we have recruited under Izzo it would be a little more important at MSU.

    Not saying he wouldn't be successful here though.

    Buffalo Spartan ●

  • Giant Moose said...

    I think Izzo wins a national title within the next 4 years and retires. Out West there's a guy Jud has been grooming for us -- Mark Few.

    Few owns half of Washington State. I doubt he's leaving there.

    Anyone. Anyplace. Anytime.

    rookmsu

  • Ah, yes. This thread again...

    Spartan Butters

  • Mark Few had a shot at Indiana and Arizona and said no. Unless he is holding out for the MSU job (unlikely), it looks like he's staying where he is. Plus, he's also 52.

    "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." - Mark Dantonio.

    JMSparty08

  • JMSparty08 said...

    Mark Few had a shot at Indiana and Arizona and said no. Unless he is holding out for the MSU job (unlikely), it looks like he's staying where he is. Plus, he's also 52.

    Few will be 50 this December. I think Few's relationship with Jud makes MSU the only job Few would leave Gonzaga for.

    attachment
    signature image

    Giant Moose ●

  • Gregory and Few would be between 50 and 60 years old in the 5-10 year range that we're talking about.

    KamState

  • rookmsu said...

    Few owns half of Washington State. I doubt he's leaving there.

    Assuming for a second that MSU doesn't decide to promote an assistant and goes outside the program, I think the job is attractive enough that some big names would consider making a move.

    Few "owning half of Washington State" doesn't seem like a dealbreaker to me. Coaching a powerhouse program in a major conference is clearly a step up from Gonzaga.

    Phil McCrackin

  • JMSparty08 said...

    Mark Few had a shot at Indiana and Arizona and said no. Unless he is holding out for the MSU job (unlikely), it looks like he's staying where he is. Plus, he's also 52.

    He's 49, but I see your point about his age.
    MSU would likely seek a more long-term solution.

    Phil McCrackin

  • HillSpartan said...

    Dane Fife. Brian Gregory (now at GT, but at Dayton until recently) is also a possibility.

    I cant understand why guys are high on him.
    He has won a total of one(1) NCAA game in his life, his Dayton teams were probably the most inconsistant of about anybody i can think of( beat somebody good, then lose several games to terrible teams at key points in different seasons) and he hasnt exectly torn it up yet at GT,although admittedly the jury is still out there.
    In short, he hasnt distinguished himself at all thus far as a head coach, so why would he be given the keys to a Cadillac?
    Dayton fans werent exactly crying that he left, thats for sure.

    As far as Few goes, even Gonzaga fans seem to think the hourglass is kinda running out on him there, according to many fans on the GU board. They think he has reached as far as he can already. And his teams are soft and never play defense.
    Heck i would take a guy like Marshall at Wichita in a heartbeat over either of the two above guys

    This post has been edited 3 times, most recently by Mudjin harbor on 3/8/2012 at 11:04 AM

    Mudjin harbor

  • Phil McCrackin said...

    He's 49, but I see your point about his age. MSU would likely seek a more long-term solution.

    Yeah, I google searched his name and some blogger said he was 52. Shoulda wiki'd it. lol

    "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." - Mark Dantonio.

    JMSparty08

  • Phil McCrackin said...

    He's 49, but I see your point about his age. MSU would likely seek a more long-term solution.

    In my scenario, he gets the job when he's 53 or less. He could coach for awhile after that.

    I mean, hell, Bo Ryan is currently 64 and Tubby Smith is 60 and nobody is saying it's time for them to retire.

    signature image

    Giant Moose ●

  • Lots of "Fife" replies. And I kinda agree... if the replacement would happen sooner rather than later. His stock value seems to be skyrocketing. I don't see him sticking around for more than 2 years.

    sleepy01 ●

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