ESPN NEWS: Michigan State to Honor Beloved and Legendary Coach Jud Heathcote with Prestigious Posthumous Award — A Tribute to the Architect of Spartan Greatness
East Lansing, MI — June 26, 2025
Michigan State University has announced it will posthumously honor legendary men’s basketball coach Jud Heathcote with the inaugural Spartan Legacy Award for Excellence in Leadership and Impact, recognizing the visionary leader who laid the foundation for one of college basketball’s most respected programs.
In an emotional announcement from the Breslin Center on Wednesday, Michigan State President Dr. Elizabeth Cavendish and Athletic Director Brian Martens unveiled plans for a commemorative ceremony this fall, calling Heathcote “the architect of Spartan greatness” and “a towering figure in the history of college basketball.”
Heathcote, who passed away in 2017 at the age of 90, coached the Spartans from 1976 to 1995, amassing a 339–221 record and leading the team to a historic national championship in 1979 behind a young point guard named Earvin “Magic” Johnson. That team’s fast-paced, high-IQ offense transformed MSU into a national powerhouse and changed the trajectory of college hoops.
“Without Jud Heathcote, there is no Michigan State basketball as we know it,” said Tom Izzo, Heathcote’s longtime assistant and eventual successor. “He didn’t just win games—he built a culture, a standard, a legacy of discipline and excellence that still guides us today.”
The Spartan Legacy Award will be presented during a special halftime ceremony on December 14, 2025, when the Spartans host North Carolina in what is now being billed as the Jud Heathcote Tribute Classic. Family members, former players, and coaching colleagues from across the country are expected to attend, including Magic Johnson, who will deliver a tribute video and unveil a bronze commemorative plaque to be permanently installed outside the arena’s main entrance.
The award recognizes not just Heathcote’s on-court achievements, which included three Big Ten titles and nine NCAA tournament appearances, but also his lifelong commitment to leadership, integrity, and mentorship. Known for his sharp wit, intense practices, and unwavering belief in education, Heathcote emphasized character as much as competition.
“Jud taught us how to be men first, and basketball players second,” Magic Johnson said in a statement. “He challenged you to think bigger, work harder, and give back. He saw greatness in all of us before we saw it in ourselves.”
Michigan State has also announced the establishment of the Jud Heathcote Coaching Fellowship, a new initiative to support young coaches pursuing graduate degrees while working within the athletic department. Funded through private donations and support from alumni, the fellowship will serve as a living legacy to Heathcote’s commitment to developing future leaders in the sport.
“Jud’s life was a masterclass in mentorship,” said AD Brian Martens. “This award and fellowship are more than symbols—they’re an invitation for future Spartans to live by the example he set.”
As Michigan State prepares to honor its most formative figure, fans, alumni, and the entire college basketball world are reminded that legacies aren’t built overnight—they’re built over decades by visionaries like Jud Heathcote.
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