Coach Tom Izzo happy at Michigan State, says Oregon hasn’t contacted him

Izzo says he is happy at Michigan St

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said Monday that he is happy where he is after a report that Oregon wants to make him the richest coach in the nation.

KEZI-TV in Eugene, Ore., cited anonymous sources in reporting that the school plans to offer Izzo college basketball’s largest contract with help from Nike Inc. co-founder Phil Knight.

“I have not been contacted,” Izzo told The Associated Press on Monday. “I’m happy here and I’m focused on trying to win another national championship.”

Izzo led the Spartans to a title a decade ago. He will take them to the college basketball’s showcase this weekend for the sixth time in 12 seasons, a string of success accomplished only by UCLA’s John Wooden and Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski in NCAA history.

Kentucky gave John Calipari a $31.65 million, eight-year contract last year, the largest known deal for a college basketball coach. Private schools, such as Duke, aren’t required by law to reveal what it pays coaches.

Izzo is earning more than $3 million per season at Michigan State and is under contract through 2016.

Oregon dismissed Ernie Kent, its winningest coach, two weeks ago after 13 seasons at his alma mater. The Ducks were 16-16 overall and 7-11 in the Pac-10 last season.

The Atlanta Hawks once tried to lure Izzo to the NBA and his name has been mentioned over the years as a candidate to lead Kentucky and Kansas, among other schools.

Izzo is in his 15th season at Michigan State, where he was promoted to replace Jud Heathcote when he retired following the 1994-95 season.

He helped the Spartans beat Tennessee on Sunday, earning a trip to Indianapolis — where he won the school’s second national title in 2000 — and a matchup with the hometown Butler Bulldogs.