Michigan State makes Tom Izzo highest-paid basketball coach in Big Ten

Connor Earegood, The Detroit News on Dec 12, 2025

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EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State’s longest tenured coach is getting a pay raise, as approved unanimously by MSU Trustees.

Izzo’s new contract, which renews annually, will pay him $7.2 million per year. That’s an increase of $1 million from the $6.2 million yearly value of his last contract, from September 2022.

Izzo's base salary and supplemental income will total $6.52 million. Brand deals, airplane use and other fringe benefits will bring the annual value to $7.2 million.

Izzo’s new contract kicks in Jan. 1, 2026. He signed the deal Friday, the day it was approved.

“We just felt it was time to take a look at the contract and make sure that he knows how much we appreciate him,” MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz said Friday shortly after signing the approved contract. “He serves as much more than a basketball coach here at Michigan State. He's an incredible ambassador for the university and for the local community and for the state of Michigan.”

The new deal will make Izzo the highest-paid men's basketball coach in the Big Ten, by annual value, according to the USA Today coaches' salary database.

At 70 years old, Izzo is in his 31st season as Michigan State’s men’s basketball coach. He is the Big Ten’s all-time wins leader and took his Spartans to an 11th Big Ten championship in 2025 amid a 30-7 season that ended in the Elite Eight.

“Coach Izzo is one of the greatest coaches in the history of college athletics,” MSU athletics director J Batt said in a statement released by MSU. “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."

Also among the personnel items addressed during Friday's meeting of the MSU Trustees: approval of football coach Pat Fitzgerald’s contract. The Detroit News reported those contract terms last week: a minimum five-year, $30 million contract that could rise to eight years and $54 million if Fitzgerald wins seven games in each of his first three seasons. Fitzgerald signed his contract terms Dec. 1 and was introduced as head coach Dec. 2. He signed the full contract Thursday, Dec. 11.

"It's been a busy two weeks for Coach Fitzgerald," Guskiewicz said. "And as I said before, he's got a proven track record of a great performance on the playing field, in the classroom, and he's a great recruiter. He understands the Midwest, how to recruit here in the Midwest, and so we're excited. He's putting together his coaching staff and doing a great job already on the recruiting trail. And I think the future is bright for Spartan football."

Fitzgerald's contract gives him $12.12 million to hire 10 assistants, including coordinators. He is limited to two-year contracts for his assistant coaches and three years for his coordinators. Fitzgerald already has three staffers hired, retaining defensive coordinator Joe Rossi and safeties coach James Adams, and hiring former MSU linebacker Max Bullough to be co-defensive coordinator alongside Rossi while coaching linebackers.

Former head coach Jonathan Smith had $10.75 million for assistant salaries.

Fitzgerald's deal runs through at least Jan. 31, 2031. He will make $4 million a year in base salary, with $1 million in supplemental income rising by $500,000 each contract year. This includes the three additional years that seven-win seasons would grant him. The deal also carries a 72.5% buyout. Michigan State will pay Fitzgerald up to $40,000 in relocation expenses.

Fitzgerald's contract requires him to comply with policies of Michigan State, the NCAA and the new College Sports Commission, which MSU AD J Batt helped implement as part of the House Settlement Implementation Committee. He is also required to work with the Spartan Athletics Foundation, the non-profit that is part of the new Spartan Ventures entity that MSU and Batt continue to put together.

Trustees approved Fitzgerald’s hire and contract unanimously.