Michigan State Basketball History

The history of basketball begins in 1898 when the school played its first 2 games. They did not have a formal head coach and ended up losing both games. The following year, they hired Charles O. Bemies as the head coach and posted a respectable 5-2 record from 1899-1901.

George Denman and Charles Brewster

The following year George Denman took over and became the only undefeated coach in school history posting a perfect 11-0 record over 2 seasons. In 1903, Charles Brewster took the reins and did a terrific job over 7 seasons posting a 70-25 record. Other notable coaches for the Spartans include Benjamin VanAlstyne who coached from 1926-1949. During his tenure, the scoring average increased 18 points from 28 points per game (ppg) to 46 ppg.

A Gold Medal Coach

coached the team from 1950-1954 but his record was only mediocre. He posted a 45-42 overall record. He had a sub par conference record of 26-34. He left as coach after the 1954 season and returned to the West Coast where he was hired as head coach at the University of California, Berkeley.
Newell turned the school into a basketball powerhouse, compiling a 119-44 record, winning four consecutive Pac-8 titles from 1957 to 1960. He coached the Golden Bears to two straight appearances in the championship game, winning the in 1959.

He then went on to coach the USA to the gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics. He compiled an overall record of overall record of 234 wins and 123 losses over 15 seasons. He is considered by many historians and coaches to be one of the most influential individuals in college basketball. He passed away on November 17th, 2008.

Jud Brings Stability to the Program

In the modern era beginning in 1976, MSU has had 2 coaches to guide the team and each has won a NCAA championship. First to win a championship for the school was who took over the team from current (2010) radio announcer Gus Ganakas in 1976. Gus coached the team from 1969-1976 and compiled a winning record of 89-84.

With local superstar phenom Earvin , Heathcote coached the team to a victory over Indiana State and Larry Bird in 1979. The victory delivered MSU its first basketball championship in school history. That game is credited with being the impetus to push the popularity of college basketball and the NCAA Tourney to new heights.

Jud was a terrific teacher and tactician but had trouble recruiting standout recruits. A major problem was the old dilapidated . Eventually, the Breslin Center was built and he had the good opportunity to coach a few seasons in the new arena. Jud retired in 1995 after 19 seasons at the school compiling a 339-221. His overall record was 419-274.

takes the Program to Elite Status

When Jud Heathcote retired in 1995, he turned the reins over to his longtime assistant Tom Izzo. Coach Izzo struggled at first posting a 33-28 record his first 2 years. He then ripped off 4 Big Ten titles and a NCAA Championship in 2000 with a victory in the final game over Florida 89-63. Since the 1998-99 seasons, Coach Izzo has guided the team to 6 Final Fours in 12 years. Tom Izzo has elevated the program to elite status.

In the summer of 2010, the Cleveland Cavaliers approached Tom Izzo and offered him the head coaching job of the Cleveland Cavaliers. He would inherit a team that won 61 games the previous year and may have included free agent and certain Hall of Famer Lebron James . Tom Izzo would double his salary to 6 million dollars. In an effort to keep him, erected 1,000 “We Love Izzo” signs and 40 banners around the MSU campus.

After more than a week of intense media scrutiny and wild speculation, Tom Izzo holds a press conference and has decided to remain at the school he loves. A sigh of relief for the Spartan Nation who have come to enjoy the great success of the men’s basketball team.

Tags: michigan state basketball history, Peter Newell, michigan state university

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