Ashley Woods
Editor's note: Tom Izzo worked as an assistant on Jud Heathcote's basketball staff at Michigan State from 1983-95, before being promoted to head coach at Heathcote's recommendation. Izzo considers Heathcote his greatest mentor in his Hall of Fame career, which includes the 2000 national title. Izzo authored this memoir for the Free Press this week in honor of Heathcote, the championship coach who died Aug. 28 at age 90.
I got the call Monday about 9 p.m. telling me I’d lost my mentor.