Jud Heathcote, Legendary Michigan State Head Coach, Dies at 90

Jud Heathcote, who coached Magic Johnson at Michigan State, has died. 
Jud Heathcote, Legendary Michigan State Head Coach, Dies at 90
Jud Heathcote, Legendary Michigan State Head Coach, Dies at 90 /

Longtime Michigan State head coach Jud Heathcote, who won a national championship and three Big Ten titles, has died, the school announced Monday. He was 90 years old. 

The Spartans poached Heathcote from Montana in 1976 after he won back-to-back Big Sky championships. His greatest achievement at MSU was winning the 1979 national championship with a team led by Magic Johnson. He was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009. 

Heathcote remained at Michigan State until 1995 and was replaced by long-tenured assistant Tom Izzo upon his retirement. 

“Without a doubt, he was one of the most influential people in my life, giving me a chance when no one else would,” Izzo said in a statement. “Any coaching success I’ve ever had is because of him. Long after he left Michigan State, he was still one of the first people I would call when I had a tough decision in coaching or life.”


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Dan Gartland
DAN GARTLAND

Dan Gartland is the writer and editor of Sports Illustrated’s flagship daily newsletter, SI:AM, covering everything an educated sports fan needs to know. He joined the SI staff in 2014, having previously been published on Deadspin and Slate. Gartland, a graduate of Fordham University, is a former Sports Jeopardy! champion (Season 1, Episode 5).