It is nearly impossible to refute Izzo’s resume as being one of the top coaches in college basketball. Besides the 2000 National Championship, Izzo has led the Spartans to seven final fours in the last 17 seasons, accumulated seven Big Ten championships, and gained 39 NCAA tournament wins in 18 straight appearances. 

Izzo has developed four players into conference player of the year, with Mateen Cleaves winning it twice, and produced 19 NBA players, eight of which were drafted in the first round.

Mark Dantonio won a National Championship as an assistant at Ohio State, gave Cincinnati’s football program new life, and in 2007, decided to take on the task of Michigan State, whose previous two coaches had losing records. 

Since his hire, Dantonio has a record of 79-31, and a 6-2 record against rival Michigan. The Spartans have 11 wins in four of the last five seasons under Dantonio, and won their first Rose Bowl since 1988 in 2014.

Off the field and the court, Izzo and Dantonio are often seen supporting each other at games. With a coaching duo that has had inordinate amount of recent success, in addition to excellent chemistry, they seem to be the clear choice for the distinction of best coaching pair.

Duke University has Mike Krzyzewski, the winningest college basketball coach in NCAA Men’s history, and up-and-coming football coach David Cutcliffe were among others named while Arizona's Sean Miller, and a football coach Rich Rodriguez were also viable candidates.