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Izzo not interested in Raptors, plans to stay put

June 15, 2004

Despite speculation that MSU basketball coach Tom Izzo will meet with Toronto Raptors general manager Rob Babcock about the team's head coaching vacancy, Izzo said Monday that he is committed to MSU and is not interested in the job.

Through a statement, Izzo said he knows a lot of candidates have been interviewed for the Toronto job but that he is not one of them.

"I have a commitment to this program and that is to try to win another national championship," Izzo said.

Questions surrounding Izzo's interest began when a source close to the Toronto search told ESPN.com and college basketball analyst Andy Katz that Izzo had talked to Babcock, the newly hired GM, and that the two will meet at a yet to be determined time.

Katz said he didn't know of Izzo's interest in the job vacancy but he did know Izzo took the call from Babcock and the two talked.

According to Jim LaBumbard, Director of Media Relations for the Toronto Raptors, no candidates for the coaching vacancy have been announced.

"Rob has not said anything on the coaching search and will likely not comment on the search until it is over," LaBumbard said.

Babcock could not be reached for comment.

Izzo is one of the candidates being considered for the position according to a report by the Toronto Star. Other possible candidates in the report include former Golden State Warriors coach Eric Musselman, Detroit Pistons assistant coach Mike Woodson, Seattle SuperSonics associate head coach Dwayne Case and Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Randy Wittman.

This is not the first time Izzo has been contacted for an NBA head coaching job. Izzo considered leaving to take the top job for the Atlanta Hawks after he led MSU to a collegiate championship in 2000. Izzo spurned the offer and the Hawks instead hired former Illinois head coach Lon Kruger.

Former Stanford head coach Mike Montgomery was the most recent coach to leave a university to try the professional level. Montgomery took the head coaching job with the Warriors.

Recent changes in the NCAA regulations have led to increased frustration for college coaches, an issue Izzo has previously addressed in the past year. Changes in graduation requirements and penalties that could be put in place if a school fails to meet academic standards have coaches feeling additional pressures.

"It's definitely an attractive time to leave," Katz said. "There are so many restrictions on college coaches and kids leaving early that the option of a big payday is very lucrative."

Katz said that the recent success of former college coaches such as Kruger returning to the college ranks after trying out the NBA has given a green light for some coaches to make the jump.

"Knowing that you can come back and get a college job even if you didn't have great success in the NBA is reassuring," Katz said.

"It's not a huge gamble anymore to leave and give the NBA a try."

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