For many, sports are like family. For Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo, they are one and the same.
Along with a boatload of accomplishments — including Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, Michigan State's all-time leader in coaching wins, 2000 NCAA national champion, eight Final Four appearances and a Big Ten-record 24 straight NCAA Tournament appearances — Izzo adds "father" to his legacy.
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Anyone who has ever played sports knows that being the coach's child can be difficult, for both sides. The criticism can be uncomfortable to deal with, whether you're the subject of it or not.
Luckily for Steven and Tom Izzo, that hasn't become a problem. The duo prefer to keep basketball matters inside the practice gym and team hotels. The elder Izzo stressed that it was a promise they had to make to each other to allow for that necessary separation.
And because the younger Izzo isn't competing for minutes with the Spartans' top players, there was no concern that the coach would favor his son. Tom Izzo has spoken previously about how accepting the team is of his son, something for which he will always be grateful.
Despite the lack of playing time, the Izzos have found a way for Steven to be involved with the team, carving out a role that other father-son combinations have created, such as Tyler and Bill Self at Kansas and Brad and John Calipari at Kentucky. Both of those players were walk-ons, well.
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Here's what you need to know about the father-son duo on the Michigan State sideline.
Are Tom Izzo and Steven Izzo related?
Yes, the Izzos are related, but maybe not in the way you'd think. Steven Izzo is Tom Izzo's adopted son. The Izzo family adopted him when he was a baby.
Does Tom Izzo's son play for him?
The younger Izzo does play for his father, although he does not see much game action. The elder Izzo still relishes the chance to be around his son, especially since being the Spartans' coach takes him away from family a lot.
Tom Izzo famously promised his son a spot as a walk-on if he kept his grades up and made the high school varsity team.
What year is Steven Izzo in college?
Steven Izzo is a senior at Michigan State. He joined the Spartans as a walk-on prior to the 2019-20 season. With Tyson Walker, A.J. Hoggard and Jaden Akins taking up most of the minutes in the backcourt, there hasn't been much of an opportunity for Izzo to crack the rotation.
| Season | GP | MPG | FG% | RPG | APG | PPG |
| 2019-20 | 11 | 1.5 | .000 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| 2020-21 | 8 | 1.4 | .000 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| 2021-22 | 8 | 1.0 | .000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 2022-23 | 8 | 1.0 | .000 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
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How old is Tom Izzo?
Izzo is 68, but he has shown no signs of slowing down on the sidelines. In the first round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament, he famously snapped a clipboard in half to express his frustration.
He served as an assistant to Jud Heathcote at Michigan State from 1983-95, when he was promoted to head coach. Izzo played basketball for four years at Northern Michigan University, starting his career as a walk-on for the 1973-74 season.
His Spartans will look to become the first Big Ten team to reach the Final Four since they last did it in 2019. Michigan State also remains the last Big Ten school to win a national championship, which it last accomplished in 2000.