Tom Izzo, the Michigan State Spartans coaching legend, reflects upon working long enough to coach against the sons of colleagues and friends.
Tom Izzo Takes Long Coaching Tenure in Stride With Humor
Since his first coaching days at Ishpeming High School 48 years ago, Izzo dedicated his life to the game. Along the way, he’s made friends along the way. These colleagues worked with and against Izzo, as both assistants and opponents.
Yet, we’ve reached the point in his career where the sons of said colleagues will stand across from him. Tonight, Izzo will see someone that he’s known since the opposing coach was a child. When asked about how he feels about coaching against the sons of contemporaries, Izzo brought a laugh to the table.
Tom Izzo when asked if it’s strange to coach against sons of his peers in the industry:
“Is that a backhanded compliment or what the hell is that?”
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— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) March 21, 2025
“At least it’s not their grandsons. Is that a backhanded compliment, or what the hell is that?”
With tongue firmly planted in his cheek, the priceless retort from the Spartans coach, not only entertains, but signal a deeper meaning, a look into his circle of friends.
A Long Journey Down the Coaching Road
From 1977 to 2023, Phil Martelli patrolled the sidelines as either an assistant, starting at Widener University to ending his career as a Michigan acting head coach. In the middle of those two stops, Martelli brough St. Joseph’s University to national prominence.
Under his tutelage, the Hawks won six Atlantic 10 Conference regular-season titles, along with three conference tournament championships. John Chaney raised Temple basketball to new heights, and Fran Dunphy continued that legacy after establishing Penn as a perennial winner. Martelli became the third part of Philadelphia basketball royalty.
Add in Jay Wright, who put Villanova on the map with consecutive national championship. Martelli’s legacy remains safe and secure. Now, his namesake will meet one of his closest friends in the NCAA tournament.
The question that drew laughter pertained to Phil Martelli Jr., the current coach at Bryant University. The younger Martelli draws comparisons to his father but walks as his own coach. The younger Martelli did not coast on his father’s laurels.
Working his way up from Central Connecticut to the NBA G League to taking over at Bryant in 2023, he blazed his own trail. In just his second year and only Bryant’s 17th as a Division 1 program, the Bulldogs embody the Martelli toughness.
While BU scores the 17th most points per game with 82.4, they also rank third nationally in blocks per contest with six rejections.
Make no mistake: Izzo and Michigan State possess the more talented roster. Freshman guard Jase Richardson can shoot the light out. Connecting at a 51.2 percent clip from the field (41.2% from three) , will give anyone problems.
Bryant’s goals need to start with keeping Michigan State off the glass. The Spartans pull down 39.8 boards a night, sitting 14th among 364 Division 1 teams. Izzo, in the recesses of his coach’s mind, probably expects to see familiar offense sets from Bryant.
At the same time, as mentioned, the younger Martelli is his own coach and will put his own stamp. Izzo fully understands the star potential of Martelli, via Sports Illustrated:
“Phil Martelli [Sr.] and I were on a lot of committees in the last six, seven, eight years. I’d have to say he’s one of my better friends in coaching, and he just sort of retired last year. “And his son, Philip, I know. In fact, I called him yesterday to congratulate him on winning and getting in the tournament. Because I had talked to Phil, and ironically, now, we’re going to play him.”
Meanwhile, Phil Martelli, Jr possesses the same respect for his now-counterpart.
“The ironic thing is when I got the job here, back last year, one of the first phone calls I got was from Tom Izzo,” Martelli Jr. said. “And then, on Thursday, in the morning, my phone rang, and it was Tom Izzo congratulating us. He and my dad have been very close; he was on my dad’s podcast earlier a couple weeks ago.”
KEEP READING: Tom Izzo on His Tough-Love Coaching Philosophy at Michigan State
Tom Izzo knows the NCAA tournament like the back of his hand. Reaching the big dance 27 times out of 30 possible seasons makes him a fixture. Yet, 2025 brings him something different in the way of his opponent during the first round.
While the postgame will be hugs and smiles, he knows that Martelli isn’t just happy to play in the tournament. Much like MSU, Bryant sees this as a business trip. The Michigan State coach doesn’t expect anything less.
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