She has become an icon in MSU men’s basketball history, forming a bond with head coach Tom Izzo and the Izzone student section.

But beyond basketball, she’s a highly-regarded educator, a fierce student advocate and a champion of the “Triple A”: academics, athletics and arts.

Janet Alleman-Trumbull, professionally known as Jan Alleman, doesn’t give her age voluntarily, nor break eye contact. At her core, she’s Type A — organized, disciplined and competitive. She attends St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, always carries hand sanitizer and holds herself to the highest standard.

Before her meeting with The State News initially, Alleman came prepared — not with talking points, but with a list. A handwritten breakdown of what she and Tom Izzo had in common.

At the top, she wrote “electric passion” — the kind that fuels every classroom she’s taught in and every basketball game she’s cheered at.

She jotted down “tough love” and “shape young people’s lives,” because whether it’s coaching from the sidelines or mentoring in the classroom, she holds everyone to a higher standard.

“Can’t stay seated.” Anyone who’s seen her at Breslin Center knows that one’s true.

“Obsessed with perfection.” “Strive for rigor.” “Go the extra mile for players, students.” The non-negotiables of her career.

And at the bottom, she wrote “Bleed green.” No further explanation needed.

It wasn’t just a list. It was a philosophy — her own playbook for life.

Extraordinary mentor

Alleman has always thought outside the box, constantly innovating in how she teaches and engages students. She has countless stories, but one stands out. In one of her classes, she had a nonverbal autistic student. During reading time, he would grunt but never form clear words. Recognizing his creativity, she introduced hand puppets during reading time. At first, he used the puppet to try reading. Then, one day, he read aloud — puppet in hand.

By the end of the school year, he tossed the puppet aside and read on his own for the first time. This was completely a byproduct of Alleman’s inclusive and inventive teaching style.

“There wasn’t a dry eye in the class,” Alleman said. “I’m all about modeling what you want in other people.”

Alleman grew up in Iowa, where her hometown basketball team won a state championship. She graduated from Drake University’s teacher education program and earned her PhD from the University of Iowa in 1968. She taught fifth grade for a few years in Iowa, then tried out for an educational television job. The employers said she was “too young, immature and uneducated,” but she knew she could get the job.

A year later, she got the job — and kept it for five years.

While earning her PhD, she attended conventions to network, leading to connections with MSU professors. She then came to the university, where she stayed for “a really long time.”

Throughout her teaching career, she has traveled to nearly 35 countries — about 30 for work and the rest for leisure with her late husband, George Trumbull. Africa remains her favorite continent — it changed her life. She noted that in many African countries, people always appear “refreshed, proud and put together.”

She also loves Vietnam for its deep respect for education. While there, she led a project introducing teachers to more engaging learning techniques.

Her goal was to help teachers adopt instructional strategies that engaged students and encouraged collaboration. Her work — both abroad and in Michigan — reflects her deep commitment to supporting students. She encourages students to seize every opportunity and embrace the "Triple A": academics, athletics and arts.

“Every year is a new year for me,” Alleman said. “It’s what you do with it.”

For decades, Alleman has championed the idea of bringing people together by focusing on commonalities rather than differences. She believes this approach “builds relationships” and reveals how people are more alike than different.

Early in her career teaching social studies at MSU, she had little control over her schedule. That meant teaching 30 undergraduates — including Magic Johnson — during men’s basketball games. Her love for basketball didn’t interfere with education, however. Immediately she went to the dean and said she needed three televisions, and eventually she got them.

She struck a deal with her students: if they all showed up, class would start at 5 p.m., they’d work until 7 p.m. and then watch the game together.

The class embraced the idea. By the end of the semester, everyone showed up in green and white, waving pom-poms. No one skipped class and the work quality was phenomenal, Alleman said. Students knew she cared — and they returned that passion.

Rob Ley, a fourth-grade teacher in Michigan, earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees in curriculum and instruction at MSU. A former student of Alleman, he took every class of hers he could.

Ley calls Alleman a mentor, a hero and a figure on the “Mount Rushmore of teacher education.”

Since graduating from MSU, Ley and Alleman have co-authored a book, remained close friends for 20 years and published multiple academic journals together.

“She’s just incredibly amazing and unlike anything I’d ever experienced at MSU for my undergrad or master’s,” Ley said. “Her passion, her discipline, high expectations, her engagement. She was incredibly invested in everyone’s progress. She deeply cared about my development.”

The book they wrote together is “Homework Done Right: Powerful Learning in Real-Life Situations,” which aims to rethink how teachers design and assign homework assignments, looking at homework as a real opportunity to connect kids’ school life to their outside, real life.

Alleman instilled in Ley the idea that motivation is key: Why should he care about these students? How can he help them? Alleman’s authenticity shaped him as an educator and Ley sees constant evidence of her impact.

“She demands the best out of herself and those she works with,” Ley said. “Discipline is love, and she really brings that to every conversation.”

Alleman is known for expecting the best from her students. Once, on her way to class, she spotted a student driving the opposite way — skipping class. She pulled over, convinced him to get in and took him to class.

Two weeks later, his father called to thank her for caring. Recently, a student from Lansing emailed her on a Friday, saying he’d miss class because his nephew had a hearing. Alleman knew he was “blowing smoke,” and wasn’t doing anything to help his subpar grades. She told him to “figure it out.”

By Monday, he was in class, working hard — and passed. At semester’s end, his mother met with Alleman, thanking her for putting him back on track.

To Alleman, this is just “tough love.”

Alleman transitioned out of MSU about a decade ago. She called it being “refired” — a word she found funny but MSU hesitated to use in a story about her next steps. She knew it was time when her research partner of 30 years, Jere Brophy, and husband George died within 11 months of each other. Alleman and Grofie never had a fight and Alleman and Trumble had many beautiful memories together.

For the past decade, she has developed student-led family conferences. Before COVID-19, she coached in the Haslett, Lansing, Holt and Mason school districts. After the pandemic, she transitioned to full-time at Mason. Conferences allowed students to bring family members for an hour on the weekends, at night, or any time in between, to share what they learned and how it will impact their future. 

“You signed up for this, I’ll accommodate you,” Alleman said. “I go the extra mile for these kids.”

At Mason, she coaches, teaches and builds leaders. She’s there all day, every day, but might skip out early for basketball games. Everyone understands. 

Alleman is high-touch, not high-tech. She thrives on personal connections, both in and out of the classroom. Her niece, Dr. Amy Jamison, is her only Facebook friend—she never checks requests and, like Tom Izzo, avoids other social media. As a student advocate, she does whatever it takes to support their progress.

Dr. Jamison started noticing people stopping Alleman around town, asking for pictures. People approached them at dinner, while shopping and most often at Breslin Center. Dr. Jamison recalls students walking past Alleman at the arena, then turning back, exclaiming, “Oh my gosh, that’s the lady!”

Dr. Jamison attended games with Alleman and Trumbull but began going exclusively with Alleman in the 2010s. After Trumbull passed, she accompanied her to every game. Being at MSU since 2005 as co-director of the Alliance for African Partnership, Jamison has found it easier to attend games with Alleman.

A transfer of passion for basketball occurred when Dr. Jamison was in college after her aunt brought her to a few games. Her parents noticed her newfound love for basketball — all because of Alleman.

“Her passion for the game is contagious,” Dr. Jamison said. “I remember coming home for Christmas one time and my family noticed I had never been this into sports. I caught that passion and enthusiasm from her.”

Alleman’s passion for education was evident throughout Jamison’s childhood. As Alleman traveled to Japan, Kenya and Indonesia for education work, Jamison eagerly awaited her visits home.

Alleman has always championed travel, urging students, teachers and her niece to explore the world. Both Jamison and Ley credit Alleman for inspiring their global curiosity.

“​​Travel affords such depth and curiosity, and where you are and being able to share it with other people,” Ley said. “Jan and I have shared that: meet new people, try new things.”

Ley has worked in Iceland, India and Japan, to name a few countries. He said that Alleman’s influence and educational work do not go unnoticed around the world, saying that if you’re in the world of education and you’re in research, “you know who Jan Alleman is” because she’s “that big and important.”

After her time in Vietnam, Alleman joined MSU — and that’s when she bought her first men’s basketball tickets. She bought season tickets for football and basketball before even making her first car payment — it was that important.

She has always thought outside the box and worked relentlessly. As a child, she read a book that said, “No one can give you five reasons why you can’t do something.” That mantra has guided her ever since. In high school, she worked three jobs and picked up double shifts whenever co-workers didn’t show up.

Alleman's parents eventually sat her down and told her she was working too hard. She said she was “just determined.” One of her jobs was at a Dairy Sweet, where she managed the ice cream counter. She invented new ice cream flavors, had friends taste-test them and convinced her boss to add them to the menu.

The Tom Izzo connection

Since Tom Izzo became head coach, Alleman has built a strong relationship with him. As Alleman puts it, she knew Izzo when he made $10,000 — and thought he was rich. Now, in his 30th season, she watches him claim his 11th Big Ten title.

But how they became familiar with each other is uncommon.

Dave Harshman, assistant to Jud Heathcote, gave Alleman scouting reports. She learned the game through those reports — and even created tests for players like Magic Johnson, whom she tutored. First, she quizzed them on the upcoming game. Then, she helped with their academics — social studies, English and writing.

“I wanted to build relationships with the basketball players, like all people, and wondered how I would do it tutoring these kids when basketball is a very high priority,” Alleman said. “I wanted them to see their life skills improve for whatever work they do in the future.”

Since then, she’s become a basketball staple and stays in touch with Izzo’s children — though she never discusses basketball with his daughter. To Alleman, that’s off-limits — she refuses to use her relationship for basketball talk. She also never asks for favors.

After the 2000 Final Four, Alleman — attending with Trumbull — somehow ended up in an elevator with the team.

For both Alleman and Trumbull, this was a second marriage — and one that almost didn’t happen. A neighbor set them up, despite both swearing off marriage. They had one date before Alleman left for Spain. While abroad, she surprised herself — she wrote Trumbull a postcard. That postcard was just the beginning.

“The relationship turned into a fairytale,” Alleman said. “It was fabulous. My whole life (with him) was fabulous. He was incredibly creative and clever. He was my biggest cheerleader.”

'The Jumbotron Lady'

Even after Trumbull’s passing, she continued attending games — becoming the Izzone’s unofficial cheerleader.

She doesn’t seek the jumbotron — she just wants to energize the crowd. Her passion fuels MSU home games, giving the Spartans an extra edge this season. Even Izzo has credited the crowd, saying their energy added a few crucial points when the team needed them most.

“That’s how I’m wired: I’m a cheerleader,” Alleman said. “I’m just naturally up.”

She’s been recognized everywhere — Chicago, airplanes, even the Frandor Shopping Center parking lot. One question she gets asked is, “Are you the one?” What surprises people? Her willingness to stop and chat. Once, a young fan took a picture with her — only for Alleman to realize the girl was reading her book in social studies class. To her, every encounter is a chance to learn and connect.

“I care deeply about people and learn so much about them,” Alleman said.

Dr. Jamison loves seeing Alleman shine at basketball games, but she hopes people also recognize her impact in education.

“I hope people don’t just see her as this woman dancing on the screen, but see this other side of her to offer to people: her research and work that she’s done,” Dr. Jamison said. “I love that she’s being exposed and her life’s work is on stage, and people can appreciate that.”

For two decades, Ley and Alleman have shared countless conversations, co-authored academic journals and inspired each other’s work. Ley calls Alleman his constant inspiration — brilliant, with a rare gift for recognizing people’s efforts. Ley’s never “been seen or heard” the way he has with Alleman.

“Every single person she interacts with, she sees them as an opportunity to learn from them. She’s always learning, always teaching, always inspiring. It’s so authentic and incredible to be around,” Ley said. “She’s so gifted at looking at the world and finding these really meaningful opportunities for the kids and teachers. She has an incredible eye for recognizing the good in other people.”

During MSU’s home game against Illinois, she orchestrated a “battle” with Illinois’ Blue Hands — knowing the Izzone would love it. Even in brief encounters, she offers meaningful advice. She understands people — and always wants to help.

Through the years, she’s received help in interesting ways. She never had game-day traditions — and at first, she barely owned any green clothing. Little by little, Spartan gear started appearing.

One day, at a beauty store, she found a green-and-white scarf with an anonymous note: “This will add to your green wardrobe.” Another time, a scarf-maker called her out of the blue. She’s received many MSU pins and has accumulated little gifts. Now, she rarely attends a game without wearing Spartan green. At games, however, Alleman stays locked in.

“When I’m there, don’t talk to me about anything else,” Alleman said. “Don’t mention bridge or where we’re going to meet.”

For now, Alleman’s focus is on the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis — then, March Madness. Maybe she’ll run into Izzo in an elevator again. And there’s no doubt she’ll be stopped — asked if she’s “that lady” or “the jumbotron woman.”

To most, she is just “that lady” on the jumbotron — cheering, clapping and rallying the Breslin to life. But to the students she’s taught, the educators she’s mentored and the people she’s inspired, Jan Alleman is far more.

She’s a leader. A teacher. A force of nature.

And long after the cameras stop rolling, long after the final buzzer sounds, her impact will endure — far beyond the court.