Michigan State has announced that Alan Haller is leaving his role as athletic director. Haller has been in charge of the athletic department since September 2021, when he was appointed vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics. The 54-year-old was under contract until August and has worked for Michigan State athletics since 2010.
Michigan State AD Alan Haller To Step Down
The university’s president, Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D., announced today that the university will make a change in Spartan Athletics following Alan Haller’s decision to step down as vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics.
Michigan State announces that athletic director Alan Haller is leaving his position. He had led the athletic department since September 2021, and was under contract through August 2026. Deputy AD Jennifer Smith and men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo are interim co-ADs during search.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) May 1, 2025
“I’m grateful for Alan’s leadership since I joined the university and appreciate the success our programs have seen under his leadership,” Guskiewicz said. “He is deeply committed to this university and has led with honesty and integrity.”
The president also revealed that Michigan State will be looking to hire a new athletic director who can best navigate the changing landscape of collegiate athletics. The new athletic director will also work closely with both internal and external stakeholders to take the university to the next level.
Haller’s tenure as athletic director included the hiring of football coach Mel Tucker on a $95 million, 10-year contract just three months into his tenure.
Spartan Athletics also won Big Ten championships in several programs under the former Spartan footballer. These include men’s basketball, women’s soccer, women’s gymnastics, men’s ice hockey, and women’s cross country, along with postseason appearances for several programs.
Tom Izzo Takes on New Role
President Guskiewicz also announced that long-serving men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo and deputy athletic director Jennifer Smith will serve as co-interim athletic directors during the search for Haller’s replacement.
“This is a pivotal time for college athletics, where innovation, effective communications and community engagement are more important than ever,” Guskiewicz said. “Our next athletic director will lead one of the nation’s more storied athletic programs, home to 23 varsity sports, a passionate fan base, a long legacy of academic and athletic excellence and, most importantly, an ambitious future.”
The athletic director oversees and manages all aspects of the university’s intercollegiate athletic program, a responsibility Tom Izzo will now help undertake.
The role includes a wide range of duties, including hiring, supervising, and evaluating coaches and staff, scheduling, compliance, program development, fundraising, and budget management.
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Izzo led the men’s basketball team to a 30–7 record in 2024–25 and a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament. However, the Spartans lost 70–64 to Auburn in the Elite Eight. The 70-year-old has also taken MSU to the NCAA tournament 27 times since he took charge in 1995, leading them to eight Final Fours.
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