Tom Izzo has never been one to bite his tongue when it comes to the state of college basketball. The longtime Michigan State head coach has spent decades building a legacy rooted in toughness, consistency, and player development - but in recent years, he’s voiced growing frustration with where the sport is headed. And now, it’s clear he’s not alone.
Over the weekend, UConn head coach Dan Hurley - a two-time national champion and one of the most respected minds in the game - echoed many of Izzo’s concerns. Hurley didn’t mince words.
He said that if college basketball continues on its current trajectory, he’s ready to walk away from it altogether. That’s a serious statement from a coach at the top of his game, and it speaks volumes about the unease brewing among the sport’s elite.
Hurley also made it a point to credit Izzo as a mentor - someone he regularly turns to for advice, especially in navigating the increasingly complicated college basketball landscape. And when Hurley, who’s fresh off two national titles in three years, calls Izzo the best coach in the game?
That’s not just lip service. That’s one great recognizing another.
Both Hurley and Izzo are known for wearing their emotions on their sleeves. They coach hard, they demand excellence, and they don’t shy away from confrontation - whether it’s with officials, players, or the system itself. And right now, it’s the system that has them both on edge.
The frustration centers around the shifting rules and culture of the college game. The Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) era, coupled with a wide-open transfer portal, has fundamentally changed how rosters are built and maintained. Add in the unusual cases of players like James Nnaji and Charles Bediako - who initially pursued professional paths before returning to college - and you start to see why some coaches feel like the ground beneath them is constantly shifting.
This isn’t just about nostalgia or resistance to change. It’s about stability, fairness, and the ability to build programs the right way.
Coaches like Izzo and Hurley have spent their careers doing just that - developing players over time, building culture, and creating teams that reflect their values. But in today’s environment, continuity is hard to come by.
Players can leave at any moment, eligibility rules feel inconsistent, and the balance between amateurism and professionalism is blurrier than ever.
And let’s be clear: this isn’t just a “get off my lawn” rant from a couple of old-school coaches. The list of legends who’ve stepped away from the game in recent years is long and telling.
Mike Krzyzewski, Roy Williams, Jay Wright, Jim Boeheim, Tony Bennett - all giants of the sport, all gone or stepping aside in the midst of this new era. And if the NCAA doesn’t find a way to bring some order to the chaos, more could follow.
Including, potentially, Izzo and Hurley.
That would be a massive loss for college basketball. These are not just successful coaches - they’re standard-bearers. They represent what college basketball can be at its best: competitive, passionate, and rooted in something deeper than just transactions and headlines.
So where does the sport go from here? That’s the million-dollar question.
There’s no denying that NIL and the transfer portal have brought positive change in some areas - giving players more control over their futures and earning potential. But the system needs structure.
Coaches need clarity. Programs need stability.
Because if the current path leads to more departures like Hurley and Izzo, we’re not just losing coaches - we’re losing the heart of the sport.
Let’s hope the powers that be are listening. Because college basketball needs its heavyweights.
And March Madness just wouldn’t feel the same without a few more Izzo vs. Hurley battles on the biggest stage.