TRENDING A'ja Wilson MVP — again TNF preview: Bucs-Cowboys NFL Week 5 NFL picks vs. spread Caitlin Clark on Fever future Rays troll Yanks after sweep Story by Story by Why Tom Izzo isn't planning on retiring from Michigan State any time soon Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press Thu, October 8, 2026 at 8:55 PM UTC · 3 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ROSEMONT, IL – Dana Altman called Tom Izzo earlier this week and asked the Michigan State basketball coach if he could borrow a quote of his.
Izzo said yes and asked why. That's when the Oregon coach told him he was about to retire the next day.
"I said, 'For what?' And he says, 'Is it OK if I use it?' And he told me what it was," Izzo said at Big Ten media day Thursday, Oct. 8. "I've had a lot of quotes. Some I wouldn't want him to use, some I would want him to use. But I said, 'Why?' And he says, 'I'm gonna retire tomorrow.'
"I was shocked a little bit. Now, I've talked to him a few times. And we all know that things have changed and it weighs on you after a while. But what I want to say is he had a helluva run. He was 16 years at Creighton and 16 years (at Oregon). He's been to a Final Four. He's done his job."
Michigan State's head coach Tom Izzo, left, and Oregon's head coach Dana Altman shake hands before the game on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, at the Breslin Center East Lansing. Altman, during his retirement news conference Wednesday, credited Izzo for something he heard him say in March.
"He said, 'The minute I don't feel good, the minute I don't feel I'm giving my AD, president and school every ounce of energy I have every day, or that energy drops, you don't have to worry about me being here,'" Altman said. "And I had two weeks off in August, and I thought my energy would return and it didn't. And some people I trust and truly respect told me just to delegate more and take it easier, back off a little bit. And I tried that for a couple weeks in September. And that's not me. It's not what I've done for 37 years."
A young reporter mentioned it to Izzo during his media day news conference at the Donald E. Stephens Convention & Conference Center. The nervous newbie set up his question for the Hall of Fame coach by telling him, "I thought for a lot of my life that I would never get a chance to talk to you like this."
Michigan State’s head coach Tom Izzo looks out at the fans during the Izzone Campout on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Munn Field in East Lansing. "You thought I was gonna die that early?" the quick-quipping Izzo said.
The reporter asked Izzo about where he's at with his own future.
"Where am I at?" he repeated back to the young scribe. "I'm right in front of you, brother."
Izzo then repeated much of what he has said in recent years as his teams have remained contenders for Big Ten titles and Final Fours, and his recruiting continues to be at perhaps his best sustained level entering the 32nd year as head coach.
Michigan State’s head coach Tom Izzo, right, hugs Incarnate Word’s head coach Shane Heirman before the game on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) Michigan State’s head coach Tom Izzo, right, shakes hands with Incarnate Word’s head coach Shane Heirman before the game on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) Michigan State’s Jesse McCulloch celebrates after a score against Incarnate Word during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr. celebrates after a play against Incarnate Word during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr. pushes the ball after a MSU rebound against Incarnate Word during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) Michigan State’s head coach Tom Izzo looks on during the first half in the game against Incarnate Word on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) Michigan State’s Ethan Taylor, right, and Jasiah Jervis, left, pressure Incarnate Word’s Mekhi Connor during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) Michigan State’s Carlos Medlock Jr. communicates with teammates during the first half against Incarnate Word on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) Michigan State’s Carlos Medlock Jr., center, shoots between Incarnate Word’s Jayden Thomas, left, and Kaleb Spencer during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr., left, shoots as Incarnate Word’s DJ Cason defends during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) Michigan State’s Kur Teng makes a 3-pointer against Incarnate Word during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) Michigan State’s Coen Carr dunks against Incarnate Word during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) Michigan State’s Jesse McCulloch, right, scores as Incarnate Word’s Godswill Erherine defends during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) Michigan State’s Kur Teng moves the ball against Incarnate Word during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr. scores as Incarnate Word’s Mekhi Connor defends during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr. celebrates his score against Incarnate Word during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr., left passes the ball as Incarnate Word’s Kaleb Spencer defends during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) Michigan State’s Coen Carr, right, grabs a rebound over Incarnate Word’s Godswill Erherine, left, during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) Michigan State’s Carlos Medlock Jr. pushes the ball after a Incarnate Word turnover during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) Michigan State’s Jasiah Jervis looks to pass against Incarnate Word during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) Michigan State’s Kaleb Glenn shoots against Incarnate Word during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) Michigan State’s Anton Bonke grabs a rebound against Incarnate Word during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) Michigan State’s Anton Bonke, center, is fouled by Incarnate Word’s Mekhi Connor, left, during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) Michigan State’s Coen Carr, left, shoots as Incarnate Word’s Godswill Erherine defends during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) Michigan State’s Ethan Taylor, left, scores as Incarnate Word’s D'Arrae Goodwin defends during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) 1 / 25 Michigan State-Incarnate Word men’s basketball exhibition photos Michigan State’s head coach Tom Izzo, right, hugs Incarnate Word’s head coach Shane Heirman before the game on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) 1 / 25 Michigan State-Incarnate Word men’s basketball exhibition photos Michigan State’s head coach Tom Izzo, right, hugs Incarnate Word’s head coach Shane Heirman before the game on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) 2 / 25 Michigan State-Incarnate Word men’s basketball exhibition photos Michigan State’s head coach Tom Izzo, right, shakes hands with Incarnate Word’s head coach Shane Heirman before the game on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) 3 / 25 Michigan State-Incarnate Word men’s basketball exhibition photos Michigan State’s Jesse McCulloch celebrates after a score against Incarnate Word during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) 4 / 25 Michigan State-Incarnate Word men’s basketball exhibition photos Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr. celebrates after a play against Incarnate Word during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) 5 / 25 Michigan State-Incarnate Word men’s basketball exhibition photos Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr. pushes the ball after a MSU rebound against Incarnate Word during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) 6 / 25 Michigan State-Incarnate Word men’s basketball exhibition photos Michigan State’s head coach Tom Izzo looks on during the first half in the game against Incarnate Word on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) 7 / 25 Michigan State-Incarnate Word men’s basketball exhibition photos Michigan State’s Ethan Taylor, right, and Jasiah Jervis, left, pressure Incarnate Word’s Mekhi Connor during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) 8 / 25 Michigan State-Incarnate Word men’s basketball exhibition photos Michigan State’s Carlos Medlock Jr. communicates with teammates during the first half against Incarnate Word on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) 9 / 25 Michigan State-Incarnate Word men’s basketball exhibition photos Michigan State’s Carlos Medlock Jr., center, shoots between Incarnate Word’s Jayden Thomas, left, and Kaleb Spencer during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) 10 / 25 Michigan State-Incarnate Word men’s basketball exhibition photos Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr., left, shoots as Incarnate Word’s DJ Cason defends during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) 11 / 25 Michigan State-Incarnate Word men’s basketball exhibition photos Michigan State’s Kur Teng makes a 3-pointer against Incarnate Word during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) 12 / 25 Michigan State-Incarnate Word men’s basketball exhibition photos Michigan State’s Coen Carr dunks against Incarnate Word during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) 13 / 25 Michigan State-Incarnate Word men’s basketball exhibition photos Michigan State’s Jesse McCulloch, right, scores as Incarnate Word’s Godswill Erherine defends during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) 14 / 25 Michigan State-Incarnate Word men’s basketball exhibition photos Michigan State’s Kur Teng moves the ball against Incarnate Word during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) 15 / 25 Michigan State-Incarnate Word men’s basketball exhibition photos Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr. scores as Incarnate Word’s Mekhi Connor defends during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) 16 / 25 Michigan State-Incarnate Word men’s basketball exhibition photos Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr. celebrates his score against Incarnate Word during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) 17 / 25 Michigan State-Incarnate Word men’s basketball exhibition photos Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr., left passes the ball as Incarnate Word’s Kaleb Spencer defends during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) 18 / 25 Michigan State-Incarnate Word men’s basketball exhibition photos Michigan State’s Coen Carr, right, grabs a rebound over Incarnate Word’s Godswill Erherine, left, during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) 19 / 25 Michigan State-Incarnate Word men’s basketball exhibition photos Michigan State’s Carlos Medlock Jr. pushes the ball after a Incarnate Word turnover during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) 20 / 25 Michigan State-Incarnate Word men’s basketball exhibition photos Michigan State’s Jasiah Jervis looks to pass against Incarnate Word during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) 21 / 25 Michigan State-Incarnate Word men’s basketball exhibition photos Michigan State’s Kaleb Glenn shoots against Incarnate Word during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) 22 / 25 Michigan State-Incarnate Word men’s basketball exhibition photos Michigan State’s Anton Bonke grabs a rebound against Incarnate Word during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) 23 / 25 Michigan State-Incarnate Word men’s basketball exhibition photos Michigan State’s Anton Bonke, center, is fouled by Incarnate Word’s Mekhi Connor, left, during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) 24 / 25 Michigan State-Incarnate Word men’s basketball exhibition photos Michigan State’s Coen Carr, left, shoots as Incarnate Word’s Godswill Erherine defends during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) 25 / 25 Michigan State-Incarnate Word men’s basketball exhibition photos Michigan State’s Ethan Taylor, left, scores as Incarnate Word’s D'Arrae Goodwin defends during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal) "So the million dollar question: When are you gonna retire? When I don't have the energy," he said Thursday. "When the bad things outweigh the good things. And I said this 100 times, and I'll say it one more. I still love my job – love the practices, love the meetings, love the film sessions. I do not respect my profession as much as I should right now. But I've been on every board trying to change it, and I'm gonna keep trying to change it. I love watching Nick Saban, not even coaching anymore, he's still trying to make a difference.
"And so I'm good to go, man. If you come next year, you might see me again."
And, while talking about the recent additions of athletic director Dan Bartholomae and football coach Pat Fitzgerald, along with hockey coach Adam Nightingale, Izzo gave one final hint of what might be his long-term plan.
"I think Dan is gonna be here for the long run, Fitz and Adam," he said. "I'll be here, though, until I die or something."
Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com . Follow him @chrissolari .
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Why Tom Izzo isn't planning on retiring from Michigan State any time soon
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