New Michigan State basketball assistant discusses joining Tom Izzo’s staff

Tom Izzo has made a lot of great hires this offseason. The headliner is stealing new assistant Saddi Washington from Michigan, but there’s a lesser known assistant who has joined the Michigan State basketball staff and is ready to make his first mark in the college coaching ranks.

Earlier this month, Izzo hired former Oakland basketball star Blake Lampman as the Spartans' newest grad assistant. This move is somewhat of a surprise because the Haslett, Mich., native just finished his five-year playing career at Oakland. It isn’t abnormal for Izzo to hire guys from other programs when they’re done playing, but to do it months after their playing career ended is what is surprising.

Owen Oszust with WILX recently interviewed Lampman about his excitement for getting this position and how he got it in the first place, and after listening to the interview it’s not surprising anymore that he got it.

Lampman first discussed why he wanted to work for Izzo, and this is probably the best answer I’ve ever heard a new grad assistant give.

"Izzo lives and breathes green. He would do anything for his players and alumni, and that, for me, is a guy I'll work as hard as possible for."

- Blake Lampman

Now that's someone I want on Michigan State’s staff.

But how did he get this position in the first place? Like I mentioned, it’s abnormal for a player from a different program to be hired by Izzo right out of school, but it sounds like Lampman had his eyes on this position over a year ago while still playing at Oakland.

"Number one he’s a local kid and he approached Doug Wojcik a year ago about being a GA (grad assistant). Of course Kampe, he’s a good friend and I talked to him about him. He’s been great."

- Tom Izzo

Speaking of Oakland head coach Greg Kampe, it sounds like he helped Lampman get this job as well. It’s no secret that he and Izzo are very good friends, so a recommendation from Kampe likely went a long ways.

"I have to thank my coaching staff at Oakland for everything they did for me, even getting me the foot in the door here. "

- Blake Lampman

Now I don’t know the specifics of what a grad assistant does on Izzo’s staff, but I do know they are heavily involved in all aspects from recruiting to scouting and game prep. And after hearing this interview I have no doubt that Lampman isn’t the man for the job and will bring a lot of value to the program.

I doubt Lampman will be on staff as a grad assistant for very long considering he himself said he wants to be a head coach someday. But you never know, if everything works out for him these next couple of years maybe he’ll work his way up and become an assistant coach at Michigan State next.