EAST LANSING -- Mid-Michigan is still celebrating a lifetime of Tom Izzo.
"I don't see tom going through a situation like this again," MSU Athletic Director Mark Hollis said Tuesday, indicating his confidence that the coach means it when he says he's here for life.
"I decided this decision would put me here for life -- or not," Izzo said.
The question now is -- what does a lifetime cost?
As it stands, the 15-year MSU coach is under contract until 2016, making at least $3 million a year.
That's hardly a lifetime, which has some guessing an extension -- or even a raise -- is in the works. MSU has vehemently denied any such speculation.
"Not as a result of this," Hollis said Tuesday.
But the fact of the matter is, many of the top coaches in college basketball earn more than Izzo.
Duke's Krzyzewski makes an estimated $4.2 million a year. Kentucky's John Calipari? A cool $4 million, as well.
While MSU says it likely won't add years or dollars to Izzo's current contract, officials there do admit they could change or add certain "provisions."
Right now, for instance, the 55-year-old Michigan native gets an extra $100,000 for every visit to the Final Four. The school could up the ante on that incentive -- and/or a host of others.
Thing is, even if MSU were eventually to put Izzo into the financial range of a Coach K or Calipari, most will tell you he's worth it.
"Six Final Fours in 12 years is just mind-boggling," said Gus Ganakas, who coached State basketball back in the 60s and 70s. "He's established a basketball empire; he's put Michigan State basketball on the national map."
Ganakas added that a couple of extra dollars is completely worth a whole lot more of that.
"He's become an icon at a young age here in this community."
