Michigan State Tom Izzo becomes highest paid coach in Big Ten

Christian Standal

•
Michigan State Tom Izzo becomes highest paid coach in Big Ten image

Tom Izzo didn’t have to wait long to be rewarded for his latest milestone. Less than a year after becoming the winningest coach in Big Ten history, Michigan State has approved a major raise, showing how much the university values his leadership and how important he still is to the Spartans after more than 30 seasons on the sideline.

Michigan State’s Board of Trustees voted Friday to update Izzo’s contract, adding a $1 million boost to his supplemental income and bringing his annual pay to $7.2 million. The new deal, which officially begins January 1, reflects the school’s commitment to keeping Izzo at the top of the Big Ten and on the national stage.

With this raise, Izzo continues to be the highest-paid coach in the Big Ten and now ranks as the fourth-highest-paid coach in the nation. According to the USA TODAY salary database, only Kansas’ Bill Self, Arkansas’ John Calipari, and UConn’s Dan Hurley make more.

Michigan State president Kevin Guskiewicz praised Izzo’s commitment to the university, saying in a press release that Izzo is “the ultimate Spartan.” He highlighted Izzo’s work ethic, his dedication to his players, and the impact he has made on the entire MSU community. Guskiewicz added that the school believes Izzo will continue to build a strong, championship-caliber program in the years ahead.

Izzo’s contract has been updated several times, most recently in 2022, when his yearly salary was raised to $6.2 million. That version of the deal also included an option that would allow him to step down as head coach and move into a special advisor role for the athletic director. In that position, he would earn $6.2 million in the first year and $750,000 each year after.

The new amendment keeps that idea but changes the details. Instead of advising the athletic director, Izzo would become a special advisor to the university president, earning $7.2 million during the first year before dropping to $750,000 annually. The updated contract also doubles Izzo’s yearly access to private flight time, from 25 hours to 50 hours.

Athletic director J Batt called Izzo one of the greatest coaches in college sports history, pointing to his long list of championships, awards, and NCAA Tournament success. Batt said that Izzo’s true legacy, however, is the impact he has had on his players and the Michigan State community over more than three decades.

Now in his 31st season at MSU, Izzo has a career record of 745–303, eight Final Four appearances, one national championship, and 27 straight NCAA Tournament trips. The Spartans, currently ranked No. 9 at 8–1 overall, are coming off a loss to Duke and will face Penn State on Saturday.

More college football news:

Editorial Team