Tom Izzo has been the head men’s basketball coach at Michigan State University since 1995, so he has been coaching MSU for about 31 seasons as of the 2025–26 season.

Quick Scoop: Tom Izzo’s MSU Tenure

  • Tom Izzo was promoted to head coach at Michigan State in 1995, succeeding Jud Heathcote.
  • That means he has led the Spartans for roughly three decades, entering his 30th season around 2024–25 and continuing into 2025–26.
  • During this span, he has become the longest-tenured men’s basketball coach in the Big Ten.

A Mini Timeline

  1. 1995: Hired as Michigan State head coach.
  1. 2000: Wins the NCAA national championship with MSU.
  1. 2009: Becomes the winningest coach in program history, passing Jud Heathcote.
  1. 2016: Enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, cementing his status as a college basketball great.
  1. 2024–25: Marked around his 30th season in charge, with over 700 career wins at MSU.

Why His Tenure Stands Out

  • Consistency : Izzo has led Michigan State to numerous NCAA Tournament appearances, including multiple Final Fours and a national title in 2000.
  • Program identity: His teams are known for toughness, defense, and rebounding, which has become part of the Spartans’ identity over these three decades.

In forum-style discussions, fans often sum it up like this:
“He’s basically been there forever — since the mid-’90s — and he is Michigan State basketball now.”

TL;DR : Tom Izzo has been coaching Michigan State since 1995, giving him about 31 seasons in charge through the current 2025–26 season.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.