Source: Tom Izzo Interviewing with the Chicago Bulls

[SonofPianoMan]

Pretty Interesting...

http://www.bullshome.com/2010/06/source-tom-izzo-interviewing-with-the-chicago-bulls.html

Let the crazy domino discussions begin down south... (and probably here...

From an anonymous source from within the Tom Izzo camp, I have been informed that Tom Izzo will be interviewing today for the Chicago Bulls head coaching vacancy.
This is huge.  Tom Izzo is a legendary basketball coach.  He has been at Michigan State University since 1995.   In this time he has won a NCAAChampionship in 2000, has been to the finals twice and has been to the final four six times. Under Izzo, the Spartans have been to the tournament 13 consecutive years.
Izzo is well thought of and highly respected.  On the Dan Patrick show a couple months ago,  Izzo said he gets contacted by NBA teams every year.  He said some are thought provoking and others are something he might have read in a joke book.
The Bulls head coaching job would be perfect for him and him perfect for Chicago.  The young roster needs someone who is tough and would demand respect.  They also need someone that knows every aspect of the game of basketball.  Izzo is the guy.
He has been around the game since 1973 when he played college ball for Northern Michigan University.  He has been coaching since he graduated in 1977.
Izzo is known for coaching strong guard play and rebounding.  Does that ring a bell?
The Bulls have a point guard named Derrick Rose, who many think is top five in the league at his position.  Then there is Joakim Noah who can grab any ball in a 50 foot radius.   If he came to Chicago, he would have two immediate stars in his system, but oh,  he can teach too.
Izzo knows how to work with players.  He turned Mateen Cleaves into a Spartan hero.  Jason Richardson and Shannon Brown blossomed under his knowledge.  Brown was an NBA champion last year and Richardson has always been a dominant scoring threat. He also had a guy named Zack Randolph, who could be the best low post scorer in the league, if he had his mind right.
There is no doubt in my mind that Izzo would turn the Chicago Bulls organization around.  Usually I hate when college coaches try their skills in the NBA game, but with Izzo,  I'm excited to see his greatness.
He knows how to make any five guys on the court work as a well oiled machine.  Izzo has the tested mind of someone who has been in the business 37 years.  He has dealt with all types of players and has shaped those different types into great ball players. Chicago deserves a coach who can turn the Bulls current roster into great ball players.  Izzo would be a perfect fit.
Summer free agency has been the biggest concern around the Chicago Bulls organization.  Who will they get?  Would they fit well with Rose, Noah, Deng, Gibson and Hinrich?  Why would these free agents want to come to Chicago?
If the Bulls had Tom Izzo on their sideline the possibilities are endless.  I'm sure Lebron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade know and respect Izzo.  Wade went to Marquette University in Wisconsin, I know he heard about the Michigan State Spartans and Tom Izzo who went to the elite eight in 2003, Wade's last year in the NCAA.
Izzo would be something new to the league, meaning a new beginning for any of these superstars.  The supporting roster is all ready there, and with Izzo, there would be a proven and respected head coach.
Plus,  hiring Izzo, would show the free agents that Chicago is ready to do whatever it needs to do to get more championship banners hung in the rafters.  1998,  the last hanging banner, is 12 years ago.  Isn't it time to bring championship basketball back to Chicago and its fans?
Izzo has proved he can win.  Izzo has proved he can create NBA talent out of any player whether a big man or a guard. After 15 years of the same job, isn't it time for a new challenge?
The Bulls job is the perfect challenge for Izzo.  He could prove he can coach in the NBA.  He could possibly coach arguably the best player in the game.  Plus, he could bring championships back to the mid-west, where he has practically been his whole life.
Izzo is a perfect candidate for the job.  I hope he goes into this interview with a chip on his shoulder to show Bulls management he wants to do the best to his ability with the opportunity.
Honestly,  this is what the Bulls need.  They need a guy who is going to come into the club house and get the best out of their players. The Bulls need someone who is going to demand respect but at the same time be a father figure to a young squad.  They also need someone who is fluent in teaching and motivating a team to win ball games.
Izzo can do that.
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6 Comments - Posted in Around the NBA, Chicago Bulls, NBA
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[GGGG]

Apparently, this guy thinks Izzo is a good coach.   

I'm not sure Izzo's style would work in the NBA.  NBA coaches are ego-managers first...I'm not sure he can do that.

[Hards Alumni]

homer!

[MUfan12]

I'm not sure Izzo's style would work in the NBA.  NBA coaches are ego-managers first...I'm not sure he can do that.

Especially someone with an ego like Izzo.

[teddycoke]

if Izzo DID bolt and Crean went to MSU...would the Indiana folks be heartbroken?

[mosarsour]

if Izzo DID bolt and Crean went to MSU...would the Indiana folks be heartbroken?

Yes they would. And I truly believe if the MSU job opened up, he would take it in a heartbeat.

[HouWarrior]

I dont see his coaching/play style translating to the NBA. Who is the last/ or current coach that came from college success to succeed in the NBA? Calipari, Pitino, Floyd, Carlesimo, Tarkanian...not really. You have to scroll back to Bill Fitch/Chuck Daly

And just to put some spice in the thread, lets add a Wade-like note...Izzo can bank on loyalty and a great job at MSU for many (at least 5)years..."but I look at the Bulls and their coach loyalty, has any coach, in the last 30 years (except Jackson w/Jordan/Pippen) lasted 5 years...I dont know, and I consider myself a loyal person ..." (lol) Why leave MSU?

Except for Jordan Pippen teams(Collins/Jackson) who is the last Bulls coach with a better than .500 win/loss record?
Ed Badger 1976-78 (.512)

[4everwarriors]

Yes they would. And I truly believe if the MSU job opened up, he would take it in a heartbeat.

Of course he would jump at it. But, in that scenerio, Crean is the fire hydrant and MSU is the dog. I don't think Tan Tommy makes the Spartans short list. More likely a spot on Izzo's side awaits him if Izzo bolts to the NBA. Would be face-saving measure similar to Nelson doing the same for Majerus.

[Lennys Tap]

Yes they would. And I truly believe if the MSU job opened up, he would take it in a heartbeat.

I truly believe if the MSU job opened up Crean would be menyioned but MSU wouldn't be interested. Fair or not, his stock has plummeted the last two years.

[tower912]

Anything is possible, but for the life of me I cannot figure out why Izzo would want to leave the empire he has built.   He has more money than he can spend, he is a perpetual FF threat, he is listed with the greats of his profession.   And when you look at the number of coaches who have attempted and failed to make the transition from college to the NBA, it just doesn't make sense.   In 5 years, when he fails or burns out, which college will he return to, a la Pitino/Calipari/Montgomery?    Stay put, Tom.   For your own good and the good of basketball.   

[spartan3186]

Katz had an article yesterday saying how Izzo is not going anywhere, with quotes from Izzo, not just an anonymous source. I know some will say "coach speak", but this is a non-story.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/blog/_/name/katz_andy/id/5238694/izzo-continues-build-legend-michigan-state

[brewcity77]

The author sounds like he's Tom Izzo's personal fluffer. Izzo is a good college coach, but I can't see him making it in the pro ranks. His MSU style just doesn't suit the next level, and he's not at all proven at developing players at the NBA level.

And if the MSU job did come open, I'd bet Buzz would have a better shot of getting it than TC.

[mwbauer7]

Especially someone with an ego like Izzo.

I can think of plenty of college coaches with bigger egos than Izzo. He is actually pretty modest.

[williewarrior]

Yes they would. And I truly believe if the MSU job opened up, he would take it in a heartbeat.

MSU would be idiots to hire Crean!

[bilsu]

There is no way MSU would hire Crean now. I do think it is funny that Crean's dream job may be opening up while he is stuck on a sinking ship at Indiana.

[BuzzSucksSucks]

I'd have to say that Crean's probably found himself a better deal at I4.  That'd be a tough gig following Izzo at MSU.  (Gene Bartow, anyone?) 

[Dawson Rental]

if Izzo DID bolt and Crean went to MSU...would the Indiana folks be heartbroken?

I'm just guessing, but I strongly suspect that there would be regularly reoccurring threads on the Indiana board about whether Crean was a savior who turned the team around or a septic field that suddenly came up above ground in Bloomington. I suspect that even two years later these threads would pop up.....

[Dawson Rental]

Apparently, this guy thinks Izzo is a good coach.   

I'm not sure Izzo's style would work in the NBA.  NBA coaches are ego-managers first...I'm not sure he can do that.

Really?  I was thinking more along the lines of a summer PR intern on the Bull's staff trying to make an impression.

[hdog1017]

Izzo is too coachy.  He grinds out every possession.  I highly doubt he's going to the Bulls. 

[GGGG]

I can think of plenty of college coaches with bigger egos than Izzo. He is actually pretty modest.

And who's got a bigger ego...Izzo or Phil Jackson?

[APieperFan3]

if Izzo DID bolt and Crean went to MSU...would the Indiana folks be heartbroken?

would MSU even want Crean?

[Brewtown Andy]

Katz had an article yesterday saying how Izzo is not going anywhere, with quotes from Izzo, not just an anonymous source. I know some will say "coach speak", but this is a non-story.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/blog/_/name/katz_andy/id/5238694/izzo-continues-build-legend-michigan-state

For a second I thought I had hallucinated that story, given this "anonymous source" foolishness.

[TomW1365]

Except for Jordan Pippen teams(Collins/Jackson) who is the last Bulls coach with a better than .500 win/loss record?
Ed Badger 1976-78 (.512)

Vinny had a 82-82 record w/ the Bulls.  Not so bad... w/ two playoff appearances w/1st round losses.  I know there's not alot of success with College coaches in the NBA, but I like Izzo's chances. 

[Lennys Tap]

I'm just guessing, but I strongly suspect that there would be regularly reoccurring threads on the Indiana board about whether Crean was a savior who turned the team around or a septic field that suddenly came up above ground in Bloomington. I suspect that even two years later these threads would pop up.....

I don't think even 84 would classify his work thus far at IU as that of a "savior who turned the team around".

[Marquette84]

I don't think even 84 would classify his work thus far at IU as that of a "savior who turned the team around".

A fair assessment would be that the jury is still out.  I think Crean would get credit for cleaning house and recruiting the type of players that go to class and stay out of trouble.  That would probably fall short of being named a savior who turned the team around.  I think the one-line summary would be "he was the right coach at the time but I'm happy with our new coach."   

Your comment sidesteps the real issue.

The issue here for MU fans isn't what Crean will do . . . its what Buzz will do when his name inevitably shows up as a possible domino that will start to fall if Izzo takes the Bulls job.

If Izzo leaves, whether Buzz likes it or not he is going to be whispered as a possible candidate for MSU, along with Crean, and the likes of Brian Gregory, Brad Stevens, etc.

And regardless of whether you think it is likely or not, if Crean were to get the MSU job, Buzz will be whispered as a possible candidate for IU.