Over the years, Tom Izzo has produced some special Michigan State basketball players. He's coached All-Americans, NBA stars, and Big Ten players of the year, and while he's known for being as tough as anyone on his guys, he also cares deeply about them.
We've seen this during his tenure as he's welcomed former players back for Grind Week, and he's even hired some as assistant coaches on his staff.
Some recent former players who have joined his staff are Austin Thornton and Matt McQuaid. Those two have made their homes in East Lansing post-playing days, and even Cassius Winston's younger brother, Khy, joined the program as a manager. Izzo always wants to help his guys chase their dreams.
On Monday, Michigan State announced the addition of yet another former player to the coaching staff as Goran Suton is back as a grad assistant.
Excited to have Goran Suton back in East Lansing this season as a GA! pic.twitter.com/hJ1KDQTJWF
— Michigan State Men's Basketball (@MSU_Basketball) July 7, 2025
Suton had an impressive career with Michigan State, earning himself a second-round selection in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz. Unfortunately, he never caught on in the NBA, spending 10 years overseas before retiring and is now attempting to pursue a coaching career.
What better way to kick that off than to learn under one of the best to ever do it while trying to help his alma mater repeat. And he's only going to help the post play for Michigan State. Suton was one of the better mid-range bigs in the country when he was in East Lansing and it now looks like he's going to help develop Jaxon Kohler, Carson Cooper, and Jesse McCulloch down low.
It's cool to see these familiar faces head back to East Lansing to help out, and I think Suton is going to help Michigan State do big things.