Mark Montgomery – Syndication Server

Tom Izzo releases statement on departure of Michigan State basketball assistant coach

Michigan State basketball fans were eager to see some new faces on the bench coaching this year, and they will be getting at least one new assistant this year, as current assistant coach Mark Montgomery made it official on Wednesday and will be formally taking the Detroit Mercy head coaching job effective immediately.

Following the move, Tom Izzo put out a statement as part of the team’s press release:

Tom Izzo quoted in the press release: https://t.co/Edc6Kiaglw pic.twitter.com/4za6AChj2O

— Stephen Brooks (@StephenM_Brooks) April 3, 2024

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Michigan State basketball assistant coach Mark Montgomery to be hired by Detroit Mercy

MSU assistant Mark Montgomery will be the next head coach at Detroit Mercy

Michigan State head basketball coach Tom Izzo is reportedly losing a member of his staff. Mark Montgomery has reportedly been tabbed as the new head coach of the University of Detroit Mercy.

This will be Montgomery’s second head coaching job, having led Northern Illinois’s basketball program from 2011-2021. Montgomery has also served two long stints as an assistant with Izzo, from 2002-2011 and now 2021-2024.

Sources: Detroit will hire Michigan State's Mark Montgomery as its next head basketball coach.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) April 3, 2024

Izzo will now be tasked with replacing Montgomery on his bench next season.

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REPORT: Michigan State basketball assistant coach a candidate for Detroit Mercy job

After a disappointing season that saw the Spartans fall in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, many fans have been asking for Tom Izzo to make some staff changes. According to a report from Tony Paul of the Detroit News, Izzo may be forced to make that change, as Michigan State basketball assistant coach Mark Montgomery has been flagged as a ‘serious candidate’ for the Detroit Mercy head coaching job.

Montgomery was an assistant at Detroit Mercy in 2021 and was the former head coach of Northern Illinois.

I am hearing that Michigan State assistant Mark Montgomery might be emerging as a serious candidate for the Detroit Mercy job. He was briefly an assistant there in 2021; the ex-head coach at Northern Illinois.

— Tony Paul | Detroit News (@TonyPaul1984) March 25, 2024

Michigan State basketball making slight staff changes

Tom Izzo has made a couple of changes to his coaching staff

Michigan State basketball is hosting their media day today, highlighted by a Tom Izzo press conference to talk about the upcoming season. While discussing some changes that have been made for the upcoming season, Izzo mentioned that he has made some slight changes to his coaching staff.

Mark Montgomery was hired in as a recruiting coordinator shortly after the 2020-21 season concluded. That role has changed as he will now be a full-time assistant coach on the Spartans bench.

A Michigan State alumnus, Montgomery was an assistant on Tom Izzo’s bench from 2002-2011 before taking over as the head coach at Northern Illinois.

Another staff change for MSU:
– Mark Montgomery is now an assistant coach. Was hired as recruiting coordinator in spring.
– Mike Garland will transition from assistant coach to special assistant to the head coach

— Kyle Austin (@kylebaustin) October 20, 2021

To make room to move Montgomery onto the bench, longtime assistant Mike Garland will be transitioning to a new role as the special assistant to the head coach.

The new role will allow Garland to travel less, while still focusing on film and player development. Garland’s son has recently had heart surgery, so it is important to Garland to spend more time at home.

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Possible candidates to replace Dane Fife as assistant coach

Dane Fife has moved on to take an assistant coaching position with the Indiana Hoosiers. Who are possible candidates to replace him at MSU:

Michigan State basketball assistant coach Dane Fife has announced he is leaving the program to take a job on Mike Woodson’s new staff at Indiana.

Coach Fife gave MSU 10 strong years as an assistant coach on staff, as an integral part of the coaching staff and program. Now Tom Izzo will be tasked with replacing Fife on his staff.

It will be interesting to see who Izzo targets for such an important role within the program. A spot on Izzo’s staff will be very attractive to a lot of people in the coaching world.

Let’s take a look at some of the possible candidates to replace Dane Fife: