Spartans’ Tom Izzo named Hall of Fame finalist

The 2016 finalists for basketball’s Naismith Hall of Fame have been announced, and Michigan State University men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo is on the list. Of his 18 trips, 13 of those teams reached the second weekend. Earlier this season, he eclipsed the 500-win mark.

He came to Arkansas from Creighton and later coached at Kentucky, Oklahoma State and San Francisco, leading all but San Francisco to the NCAA Tournament.

“To be nominated as a Finalist for the Basketball Hall of Fame is a tremendous accomplishment”, said Jerry Colangelo, Chairman of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He coached for 37 years and finished below. Women’s basketball star Sheryl Swoopes is also a finalist along with referee Darell Garretson.

Sutton is one of just eight coaches in college baskeball to win at least 800 games. The season-opening/public practices were popularized in the ’80s and became mainstays at dozens of major programs around the country over the past 25 years. When he retired in December, he left with a record of 747-233 in 32 seasons of coaching. Ryan led Wisconsin to four Big Ten regular season championships (2002, 2003, 2008, 2015), three Big Ten Tournament championships (2004, 2008, 2015), and the NCAA Final Four twice (2014, 2015).

He is one of 14 coaches to reach the Final Four with multiple schools and one of eight to take at least four different schools to the NCAA Tournament. There are a number of ridiculous facts attached to Ryan’s career.

Izzo finally gets his first nod to the Hall of Fame.

The Class of 2016 will be announced on Monday, April 4 at a press conference in Houston prior to the NCAA Men’s Championship game.