MSU’s Tom Izzo Honored As 2025 College Basketball Philanthropy Icon
EAST LANSING, Mich. (June 26, 2025) — Michigan State Spartans’ legendary head coach Tom Izzo has been named the inaugural recipient of the 2025 College Basketball Philanthropy Icon award—a national honor recognizing a collegiate coach whose humanitarian commitment and local generosity have transformed their community.
A Legacy of Impact On and Off the Court
Since arriving at MSU in 1995, Tom Izzo has built one of the most respected coaching tenures in NCAA history, highlighted by a 2000 national championship and eight Final Four appearances. However, it’s his off‑court efforts that have now captured national attention.
Over the past two decades, Izzo has quietly championed numerous causes in the greater Lansing area and beyond. His deep ties to the community led to the establishment in 2007 of the Izzo Family Foundation, which supports youth education, athletic scholarships, and health initiatives for underserved families in mid‑Michigan. Aided by matching donations from Spartan alums and local businesses, the foundation has helped send over 500 students to college and supported over 2,000 free medical screenings.
Inaugurating a New Standard
The College Basketball Philanthropy Icon award was created by the National Collegiate Athletic Humanitarian Committee (NCAHC) to recognize coaches whose community impact rivals their on‑court achievements. At the June 2025 awards gala in Chicago, former MSU players—including Draymond Green and Adreian Payne—returned to honor Izzo’s contributions. Green, now an entrepreneur and philanthropist himself, described Izzo this way:
“Coach Izzo taught us that greatness isn’t just about winning games—it’s about lifting others. His work in Lansing shows that lesson every day.”
Transformative Local Initiatives
Under Izzo’s leadership, MSU’s basketball program has launched:
- Spartans for Literacy, a Mobile Book Bus visiting low‑income neighborhoods, distributing over 50,000 books and tutoring support since 2018.
- Play Fair Fields, a partnership with Lansing Parks, revamping 10 local basketball courts and adding safe lighting and community murals.
- Food Hoops, a monthly hunger relief drive: pre‑game food collections distributed to over two dozen pantries.
These efforts were especially notable during the COVID‑19 pandemic, when Izzo coordinated mask and PPE donations—supplying nearly 100,000 items to regional hospitals and first‑responders.
The Award Ceremony
At the awards dinner, Izzo’s humility shone. Reflecting on his career, he emphasized: “We may coach basketball, but our real work is building people.” He dedicated the award to his wife, Carol, and their children—who, he said, “are the real heartbeat of what our family does in the community.”
NCAHC Chair Maria DeLuca praised Izzo for “raising the bar for coaches nationwide—showing how sports leaders can foster deep, lasting change in their home cities.”
Looking Ahead
Following his 26th season at MSU—one marked by both G‑League prospects and Final Four aspirations—Izzo told reporters his mission remains the same: “Win championships, yes—and also help kids thrive in life.” His team will use the national spotlight to raise further funds, launching a new digital initiative in 2026 to expand scholarships to rural Michigan youth.
In being named the 2025 College Basketball Philanthropy Icon, Tom Izzo adds another chapter to his storied legacy—demonstrating that coaching isn’t just about X’s and O’s, but about heart, community, and lasting impact.
