Tom Izzo has spurned a lucrative offer to take over the vacant Cleveland Cavaliers head coach position and will stay at Michigan State.
Uncertainty over LeBron James’ future with the team played a big role in Izzo’s decision. Despite reports that James endorsed Izzo as a potential coach, the superstar free-agent-to-be never spoke with Izzo about the job. Izzo did speak with members of James’ camp.
Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert — a Michigan State alum — reportedly offered Izzo a salary of $6 million per year to take the job. That would have represented a 50 percent increase over what the highest-paid coach in college hoops — Kentucky’s John Calipari — pulls down on a yearly basis.
The Cavs’ next move might be into a holding pattern. Landing a top coach while LeBron’s status is uncertain will be very difficult, and two of the coaches reportedly on Gilbert’s short list — Byron Scott and Brian Shaw — may be waiting to see whether or not Phil Jackson decides to leave Los Angeles.
Izzo Declines Cavaliers’ Offer; Will Stay at Michigan State originally appeared on About.com Basketball on Wednesday, June 16th, 2010 at 10:27:50.
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