ESPN News: Michigan State to Posthumously Honor Coaching Icon Jud Heathcote With Legacy Award
In a heartfelt gesture that reverberates across generations of college basketball enthusiasts, Michigan State University has announced it will posthumously honor its former head coach Jud Heathcote with a prestigious Legacy of Leadership Award. The tribute, scheduled for a special ceremony during the 2025-26 basketball season, commemorates Heathcote’s unparalleled influence on the sport and his lasting imprint on Spartan basketball culture.
Jud Heathcote, who passed away in 2017 at the age of 90, coached the Spartans from 1976 to 1995, compiling a 339–221 record. He famously led Michigan State to the 1979 NCAA Championship, a landmark victory that launched the legendary career of point guard Earvin “Magic” Johnson and helped transform college basketball into the national spectacle it is today. Heathcote’s strategic brilliance, emphasis on defense, and commitment to player development became hallmarks of his coaching style—traits that continue to define the Spartan program.
The award announcement was made by Athletic Director J. Batt, who praised Heathcote as “a pioneer, a mentor, and a master tactician who taught more than just basketball—he taught life.”
“Jud Heathcote built the very foundation upon which our basketball excellence stands today,” Batt said. “He not only brought Michigan State its first national basketball title but also instilled a culture of discipline, integrity, and relentless pursuit of greatness.”
Tom Izzo, Heathcote’s longtime assistant and successor, will present the award to Heathcote’s family during the halftime ceremony of a marquee home game. Izzo, himself a Hall of Famer and the longest-tenured coach in MSU history, often credits Heathcote for shaping his coaching philosophy.
“Without Jud, there’s no Tom Izzo,” he stated. “This award is about honoring a man who gave his soul to this university and every young man who wore the green and white.”
In addition to the award, MSU announced plans to establish the Jud Heathcote Coaching Fellowship, aimed at mentoring young coaches and promoting leadership development within college athletics—a fitting tribute to a man who spent his life teaching, inspiring, and leading by example.
For Spartan Nation and the broader basketball community, this honor affirms what so many have always known: Jud Heathcote was more than a coach. He was a legend, and now, his legacy will live forever.
