Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo has come a long way.

He used to be an assistant coach under one Jud Heathcoate, a coach who was victorious in the infamous 1979 NCAA championship game in which Earvin “Magic” Johnson defeated Indiana State’s Larry Bird.

After seeing the nuances of the game in a different light, Izzo became Heathcoate’s successor. He was young, determined and still had some of his vocal cords remaining.

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