Tom and Lupe Izzo Donate $5 Million to New Spartan Health & Research Center — A Legacy of Care Beyond Championships
East Lansing, MI — June 26, 2025
In a powerful testament to their enduring commitment to Michigan State University and the broader community, Hall of Fame basketball coach Tom Izzo and his wife, Lupe, have donated $5 million toward the construction of the newly unveiled Izzo Center for Student Health and Research, a cutting-edge facility dedicated to athlete wellness, concussion research, and community care.
Located on the southeast edge of campus near the athletic complex, the Izzo Center officially opened its doors Thursday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by university officials, student-athletes, and local residents. The facility will serve as both a health hub for MSU students and a national leader in sports-related clinical research, especially in the field of brain health.
“This center reflects the Spartans’ commitment to community health every bit as much as our commitment to championships,” said Coach Izzo, flanked by Lupe and former players. “Lupe and I have always believed that what happens off the court matters just as much as what happens on it. This is about protecting our student-athletes and serving future generations.”
Of the Izzos’ $5 million gift, half is earmarked specifically for imaging-based clinical research, including advanced MRI protocols to study and prevent sports-related concussions. MSU officials say the new center will house the university’s first dedicated athlete neuroimaging unit — a crucial step toward better understanding head trauma, recovery, and long-term effects among student-athletes.
“This is more than a building,” said MSU President Dr. Elizabeth Cavendish. “It’s a vision of a healthier future for all students, especially those who put their bodies on the line for the green and white.”
Dr. Marcus Finn, director of the Spartan Neuroscience Collaborative, praised the facility’s capabilities, noting it will allow researchers to study the real-time impact of contact sports on brain health. “With the technology we’re installing here, we’ll be able to conduct longitudinal studies on concussion effects, track recovery rates, and develop protocols that may one day become standard in collegiate athletics,” Finn said.
The building itself is a 40,000-square-foot marvel, featuring MRI and diagnostic labs, rehabilitation suites, athlete mental health offices, and classrooms for health science students. Importantly, it’s open not only to varsity athletes but to the broader student body and community, offering preventative care, wellness education, and injury treatment services.
Lupe Izzo, a longtime advocate for youth and family health initiatives, emphasized the center’s community-wide mission. “This isn’t just for the stars on the court,” she said. “This is for the walk-on, the freshman who’s never been injured, the high schooler visiting for camp. It’s for the next generation of Spartans who deserve to be healthy and heard.”
As former players like Draymond Green and Cassius Winston looked on, it was clear the Izzos’ legacy extends far beyond Final Fours and Big Ten banners.
“This building bears my name,” Izzo said, looking up at the gleaming facade. “But it’s built on the belief that every Spartan — past, present, and future — deserves to be protected, supported, and celebrated.”
Let me know if you’d like a companion piece on the medical research team or a profile of the first athletes treated at the center!
