Coach Jud Heathcote won MSU a Big Ten title on Breslin Center’s floor in its first year.
Now he will have a court named after him.
The former men’s basketball coach, who led MSU to the 1979 national title, will be honored with “The Jud Heathcote Gymnasium” in Breslin’s newly renovated and expanded Alfred Berkowitz Basketball Complex.
The MSU Board of Trustees is expected to approve the naming of the gym and “The Forest Akers Trust Gymnasium” during Friday’s meeting. Both gyms are in the new wing, which is expected to open this month.
Having two auxiliary gyms will allow both the men’s and women’s basketball teams to practice without conflict and provide arena space for other student-oriented events.
“I am thrilled and honored that they would do that,” Heathcote said. “I know Tom (Izzo) had something to do with that for sure.
“I think this a tremendous improvement for both the women’s and men’s basketball programs. For the number of events scheduled, you need your own practice facility.”
Heathcote said Breslin’s addition and renovation should help it remain one of the nation’s top facilities, which helps with recruiting.
“We struggled with Jenison Field House for a number of years,” Heathcote said. “It is a great place to play and a very difficult place to sell to a prospect. We sold our tradition and sold our program and then we would apologize for Jenison.”
Heathcote said his favorite Breslin memory was coaching MSU to victory over the Purdue Boilermakers in 1990, Breslin’s opening year, winning the Spartans the Big Ten title.
“(Purdue) Coach Gene Keady still claims there was a foul on that (final) play,” he said. “I am pleased that (Breslin) has become nationally known for its home court advantage.”
Since it opened in 1989, the men’s basketball team has a 157-27 home record, including a 48-game home winning streak - the longest in the nation.
MSU Trustee Dorothy Gonzales said naming the gyms after Heathcote and the Akers Trust are fitting tributes.
“They have both contributed to MSU in so many ways,” she said.
The Akers Trust donated $1 million to the construction of a new gym. Twelve donors have promised $1 million for the remodeling of the existing auxiliary gym with the expectation that it would be named for Heathcote.
“Given his contributions to the university, not just athletically, but also in supporting these young men go on to bigger aberrations
