Tom Izzo is now the Big Ten's highest-paid coach following contract amendment with Michigan State
Izzo will receive a $1 million raise in his five-year contract that automatically renews annually, with his total compensation now around $7.2 million.
Michigan State head men's basketball coach Tom Izzo is getting a raise. On Friday, MSU's Board of Trustees unanimously approved a contract amendment for Izzo.
According to the amendment reviewed by Spartans Illustrated, Izzo will receive a $1 million raise in his five-year contract, which automatically renews annually, with a new salary of around $7.2 million in total compensation. This makes Izzo the highest paid coach in the Big Ten. The extra $1 million was added to Izzo's supplemental compensation, which was $3.09 million in his previous contract from 2022 and is now up to $4.09 million in the amended agreement. Izzo's base salary of $2.43 million remains the same. The rest comes from miscellaneous additional compensation.
The effective date of the amended contract is Jan. 1, 2026.
Izzo is the winningest coach in the history of the Big Ten. Now in his 31st season as Michigan State's head coach, Izzo has compiled an overall career record of 745-303. He also has the most wins by any head coach in Big Ten play only, with 361 victories.
Under Izzo's guidance, Michigan State has experienced sustained success at both the Big Ten and national levels. Izzo led MSU to a national championship in 2000. He has also tallied 11 regular-season Big Ten championships, six Big Ten Tournament titles, eight Final Four appearances and eight National Coach of the Year awards. Under Izzo's tutelage, Michigan State is currently amidst a streak of 27-straight NCAA Tournament appearances, which is a Big Ten record. Additionally, Izzo's eight Final Four appearances rank fifth in college basketball history, and first among all active NCAA coaches.
In 2016, Izzo was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
The contract amendment for Izzo was a priority for MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz and Vice President and Director of Athletics J Batt, and something Izzo is grateful to have gotten done.
"I'm incredibly appreciative of the continued support from the Board of Trustees, President Guskiewicz and AD Batt," Izzo said in a statement. "With strong leadership and positive momentum throughout the University and the department, the pieces are in place for sustained success, and I'm as energized as ever to chase championships. We're going to keep working tirelessly to make all Spartans proud."
Guskiewicz highlighted Izzo's ability as a coach, but also his leadership for the university and East Lansing community.
"Coach Izzo is the ultimate Spartan - someone whose work ethic and devotion to our student-athletes, this university and the broader MSU community are unmatched," Guskiewicz said. "We believe deeply in his ability to uphold our values, develop champions, and continue building one of college basketball's premier programs, all while serving as a trusted university ambassador. Michigan State will benefit from his leadership for many more years."
Meanwhile, Batt praised Izzo for the impact he has made both on the court and off the court in the lives of so many student-athletes and community members.
"Coach Izzo is one of the greatest coaches in the history of college athletics," Batt said. "His list of championships and honors is amazing, but his true legacy will be the impact he's had, first and foremost, on his student-athletes, as well as Spartans everywhere. He cares deeply about our University and our community, and is always willing to do whatever is asked of him to advance MSU.
"Despite his impressive collection of accolades, he continues pushing his Spartans to accomplish more. Since the summer we've been discussing how we elevate the program to even greater heights in our new landscape. This new contract not only celebrates his legacy, it displays the department's commitment to doing all we can to support him and the program's championship dreams for years to come."
Through nine games on the 2025-2026 season, the Spartans rank No. 9 in the Associated Press poll with an overall record of 8-1 (1-0 in Big Ten play). MSU travels to Penn State on Saturday to play the Nittany Lions at noon Eastern Time (Big Ten Network).
Contract approved for head football coach Pat Fitzgerald:
In addition to Tom Izzo's amended contract, the contract for newly-hired head football coach Pat Fitzgerald was approved by the Board of Trustees on Friday. Fitzgerald's contract is a five year contract worth $30 million at minimum. However, for the first three seasons of the agreement, "immediately upon the Program's achievements of seven (7) regular season wins, the Term of the employment shall be extended automatically by one Contract Year."
This give Fitzgerald the opportunity for his contract to rise to eight years and $54 million if MSU wins seven games in each of his first three seasons in East Lansing.
Fitzgerald's contract also stipulates that he will be provided with an annual base salary budget of $12,120,000 for his assistant coaching pool. This includes the hiring of 10 designated on-field assistant coaches and support staff members.