Tom Izzo reveals he ‘thought deeply’ about the Suns head coaching position last summer.

Michigan State basketball head coach Tom Izzo revealed that he had “serious discussions” with Suns majority owner Mat Ishbia regarding the head coaching position in Phoenix last summer, prior to the team’s eventual decision to hire Jordan Ott.

Izzo, who recently guided the Spartans to the Sweet 16 before their defeat to UConn, mentioned that he was tempted to join Ishbia in Phoenix. Ishbia was a walk-on player at Michigan State during Izzo’s national championship season in 2000.

“I was much younger, but I have received more than a few job offers in the NBA and considered one last year with Phoenix,” Izzo stated while appearing on “The Dan Patrick Show.”

“My former player, Mat Ishbia — that was a difficult decision to decline because … I really wanted to go with him.”

When asked if the Suns extended an offer for the head coaching role, Izzo responded: “We had serious conversations about it, let’s put it that way.”

At 71, Izzo has served as the head coach at Michigan State since the 1995-96 season and holds the record as the all-time winningest coach in the Big Ten conference. The Hall of Famer has led the Spartans to 28 consecutive NCAA tournaments, which includes eight Final Four appearances.

Izzo has previously contemplated NBA head coaching opportunities with the Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers. Nevertheless, he has expressed that he remains highly motivated to secure his second national championship.

The Suns have numerous connections to Michigan State. Ott was a graduate assistant for two years before spending five seasons as the video coordinator for the Spartans from 2008-13. Suns general manager Brian Gregory served as a long-time assistant coach at Michigan State. Additionally, the Suns brought on former Michigan State standout Mateen Cleaves as a player-development coach last summer.