Michigan State Basketball: 5 potential eventual replacements for Tom Izzo

2. Dwayne Stephens

If Tom Izzo were to retire today, this is probably the guy who would take over. Dwayne Stephens has the respect of all former players and it seems like he’d be a quality replacement for Izzo given his knowledge of the program inside and out, recruiting chops, and overall respect from the basketball community.

Stephens has been a candidate in multiple coaching searches over the years but he has remained loyal to Izzo and that’s partly why he’s likely the eventual replacement for the Hall of Famer.

Izzo has spoken very highly of Stephens over his career but the only hang-up on him being the head coach would be his age. He’d likely be in his mid-to-late 50s at the time of Izzo’s retirement and taking a job from a coach who retired and being close to that age as well wouldn’t be ideal. With the way coaching searches go nowadays, the younger, the better.

Mike Garland doesn’t understand how Stephens hasn’t been hired by a bigger program by now but it seems like he’s the coach-in-waiting for when Izzo decides to retire.

Heck, Draymond Green has already endorsed Stephens as the next coach.