Carl Izzo, father of Michigan State's Tom Izzo, dies at 90

Tony Paul | The Detroit News

The father of Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo has passed away.

Carl Izzo, 90, died Monday in Appleton, Wis., the university confirmed late Monday night.

Izzo will coach in the Big Ten opener Tuesday night against Iowa. MSU landed in Iowa City on Monday afternoon.

Funeral arrangements at Erickson-Rochon and Nash Funeral Home in Iron Mountain in the Upper Peninsula haven't yet been finalized.

An employee at the funeral home said details could be finalized Tuesday, but services are expected to be held on either Saturday or Sunday.

Carl and Dororthy Izzo raised Izzo in Iron Mountain, where he began the basketball career that would make him a legend in East Lansing, first in high school, then in college at Northern Michigan.

Izzo's first two coaching jobs were in the U.P., at Ishpeming High School, then Northern Michigan in Marquette, before joining Jud Heathcote's staff at Michigan State in 1983.

Carl Izzo's brother and Tom Izzo's uncle, Ralph Izzo, died last month at age 95.

Carl Izzo is survived by Dorothy Izzo and their three children, Tom Izzo and his two sisters.

tpaul@detroitnews.com

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