Michigan State men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo said he is “disgusted” by the current on-campus turmoil that has resulted in the departures of both the university’s president and athletic director.
He challenged the school’s alumni base to take action in response to the leadership instability.
Speaking to reporters Monday, Izzo described president Kevin Guskiewicz’s move to Clemson after two years as “ridiculous,” attributing it to unrest within the board of trustees.
Two weeks after Guskiewicz’s resignation, athletic director J Batt left for the same position at Kentucky after serving one year in East Lansing.
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“There’s other dominos that get affected when things go wrong like that,” Izzo said. “I’m very upset about it, and I’m sick of it.” He repeatedly expressed frustration with what he views as a damaging pattern within the university’s leadership.
Since 1995, Izzo has led the Michigan State men’s basketball program following 12 years as an assistant coach.
He won a national title in 2000 and has become one of the university’s most visible figures. On Monday, he called Guskiewicz “the best president that’s ever been here, maybe” and blamed the departures on what he termed “self-inflicted” issues within the institution.
Following his Clemson appointment, Guskiewicz sent a letter to the Michigan State community referencing an “unsustainable situation” tied to divisions among board members. He wrote that too much effort had been devoted to old conflicts rather than collective progress on future goals.
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Guskiewicz’s May 27 letter included expressed concern about trustees publicly undermining decisions and placing personal interests above those of the broader university community. He said meaningful advancements were being hampered by these disagreements.
Around the same time, Michigan State’s trustees voted to strengthen their code of ethics. The new policy included a rule forbidding the sharing of confidential information with individuals who might release it publicly. Trustees Rema Vassar and Mike Balow voted against the revised ethics code and were censured the following week.
Izzo, who appeared visibly upset while addressing reporters, said he intended to comment further about the situation at a later time.
However, he focused on urging action from the Michigan State alumni base. “What happened with our president is ridiculous,” Izzo stated. “He said it, we know the reasons, and I’m ashamed and disgusted, hurt. Spartan Nation better stand up, all 600,000 of them.”
Guskiewicz remains in his post as president until an interim or permanent successor is determined.
In a statement Monday, he said he is developing plans to name an interim athletic director and begin the search for J Batt’s replacement. His statement indicated that continuity is a near-term priority as leadership transitions begin.
Former athletic director Mark Hollis told multiple media outlets that he would be interested in returning to the position. Hollis currently serves as tournament director for the PGA’s Rocket Classic.
He led the Michigan State athletic department from 2008 until early 2018, when he resigned during the investigation into Larry Nassar, who was convicted of sexually abusing female gymnasts.
The departures follow a period of administrative challenges within the university. Izzo’s comments reflected a desire for unity from Michigan State’s large alumni network amid the turnover.
His remarks came as the university prepared for both presidential and athletic department transitions.
As of Monday, Michigan State awaited decisions on interim leadership appointments in both roles, while calls for stability continued from major university figures.
Izzo’s statements drew attention to the level of unrest and the need for institutional cohesion across all levels of the campus community.
The statements from Guskiewicz, combined with the board’s ethics revisions and Izzo’s public comments, highlighted a period of internal friction. Michigan State’s leadership faces the task of addressing these ongoing governance disputes while maintaining focus on its future direction.
Izzo did not offer specific details about how alumni might engage but reinforced his belief that collective support would be crucial. His message underscored his ongoing frustration with the leadership climate surrounding the university.
Continued responses from administrators, trustees, and athletic officials are expected as Michigan State works toward leadership restructuring. For Izzo, the situation represented what he characterized as unacceptable turmoil within the institution he has served for decades.
He left no ambiguity about his feelings regarding Guskiewicz’s exit, calling it “ridiculous” and describing himself as “sick of it.”
His frustration encapsulated the tension surrounding Michigan State’s recent high-level departures and the uncertainty ahead.
Izzo’s remarks placed particular emphasis on accountability and renewed unity from those invested in the university’s future.
His appeal to “Spartan Nation” stood as a call for alumni solidarity as Michigan State navigates the aftermath of its leadership shakeup.
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