Tom Izzo comments on Virginia head coach Tony Bennett's resignation

Last week, college basketball lost one of the country's biggest coaching names when Virginia's Tony Bennett retired at age 55, citing changes in the college sports landscape as the main reason.

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo has known Bennett for more than 40 years and they are good friends. Izzo, who raised the issue of Bennett unprompted, said he spoke with Bennett this week. Izzo further spoke about Bennett's decision, calling it a disgrace.

“It was a good week apart from losing Tony Bennett. Personally I thought that was a shame, but I guess that's how it works at the moment… I've known Tony since he was probably 8-10 years old working in his father's warehouses when he was at Steven's Point and I was in college…

I keep telling you, if you're writing this, if you're watching his press conference or watching it, you should never have to ask me or any other coach a question about whether things are right, wrong or indifferent, you should be able to do that to find out for yourself. But that was one of the sadder days for me, you know, it bothered me when Jay Wright did it… or Roy, of course Nick Saban… but this, you know, the guy is 55 years old, he's just got a national Championship behind him a few years ago. One of the greats in our profession. Good person, good coach, good guy, and I thought the way he said it was very well said.

I have the same thing: everyone should get something… but what we have right now is the wild west and it's out of control and I just hate losing Tony Bennett, I really do, it bothers me a lot.”

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Andrew Brewster on Twitter @I'm a brewer.