Mark Hollis named top AD by SBJ, but remains undervalued

The secret has getting out more and more, and if anyone didn't know before Wednesday night, they know now.

MSU athletics director Mark Hollis is one of the best at his job, and he's a steal for MSU. Hollis was named Athletic Director Of The Year by Sports Business Journal on Wednesday. He beat out Michigan's Dave Brandon, Arkansas' Jeff Long and Baylor's Ian McCaw.

The award wasn't a shock to those who have followed MSU sports over the last half-decade. Before he became MSU's top athletic official, Hollis engineered the Cold War ice hockey game at Spartan Stadium in 2001 and the Basketbowl game at Ford Field in 2003. Both events changed how games were played — literally.

He lived out his dream with the Carrier Classic in San Diego last year — an event that will continue in the coming seasons. Hollis continues to find new frontiers, with the goal on a basketball game in Greece possibly down the road.

Since taking over the reins of MSU athletics, Hollis has had unbelievable success in hiring coaches, including baseball's Jake Boss Jr. and hockey's Tom Anastos. Hollis also was a major part in the hiring of football coach Mark Dantonio and women's basketball coach Suzy Merchant. Since Hollis' promotion, MSU athletics is in the midst of one of its most successful eras. 

Off the field, Hollis' relationship with Nike has brought huge dividends to the department with the Spartan brand identity renewal in 2010. He helped the athletic department cut expenses and turn a profit after years of losing money. A few months ago, Hollis was named to the NCAA Men's Basketball Committee. 

But for all his accolades, Hollis is greatly undervalued. As part of a USA Today database released in Oct. 2011, it was revealed that Hollis receives the second-lowest salary among public Big Ten schools, ahead of only Nebraska's Tom Osborne. At $395,000, schools such as Minnesota, Purdue, Indiana and Illinois each pay their ADs more than MSU pays Hollis. Ohio State's Gene Smith and Wisconsin's Barry Alvarez each make more than $1 million. For more perspective, some other schools that pay their AD more (at the time of the database) include New Mexico, Florida International and SMU.

MSU has been lucky it has an alumnus like Hollis. From the USA Today story:

"We all have choices," Hollis says, "and as an AD, if you are not comfortable with your compensation, you have a choice. … Everybody knows where they rank and where they stand, and nobody likes to be in last place. With that said … my choice is, I want to be at Michigan State. I'm comfortable with what the president and the board have provided me. I know where it (ranks), but I also know the values that my family gets by being part of this community and that has a great value to me, as do the coaches. It's more than just compensation for me."

MSU came under some fire in the winter when football defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi was courted by Texas A&M with some big money. MSU stepped up and gave Narduzzi the money to keep him around, but there's only so much dough. Tom Izzo is one of the highest-paid basketball coaches in the country, and MSU doesn't bring in nearly the same amount of money that Ohio State and U-M do, while having a comparable number of varsity teams to pay for. The university is having its own financial problems with dwindling public funding.

If MSU can't pay Hollis a completive rate right now, what happens when MSU needs its next AD? What if Hollis becomes the next Big Ten commissioner? (A role most everyone agree he would excel in).

Wednesday night was just a confirmation of what those in East Lansing have known for a long time: Hollis is one of the best in the business. But MSU's past drama with athletics management should be a lesson for what can happen when people aren't on the same page.

Hollis always says he wants to consistently compete for Rose Bowls and Final Fours. At some point, MSU will have to compete with the big boys financially in order to compete on the fields. ADs like Hollis don't come around very often.

MSU Athletics 2011-12 Highlight Video

First off, a note: The Random Photo of the Day will be moved to three days a week (M/W/F) because I'm running out of good things to find. Also, with not much going on in college sports right now, the blog is loading up solely on those photos, so I'm going to slow it down a bit.

Here is a cool 2011-12 highlight video covering most MSU sports. It was made by @Pietrang5 (on Twitter), who has made a lot of good MSU videos on YouTube, if you want to check out his channel.

Thoughts on the Derrick Nix situation

It's hard to have a wrong opinion on what Tom Izzo should have done with Derrick Nix following his drug arrest (later reduced to impaired driving).

Drew Sharp said that Nix should be kicked off the team. Joe Rexrode said that Izzo made the right call by reinstating Nix to the program with TBD punishments. While Sharp's opinion is valid, I agree with Rexrode. I'm a guy who believes in giving guys chances to redeem themselves, especially college kids.

But the only person whose opinion matters is Izzo. It's quite clear that he knows what is best for his program. This isn't a case of a guy letting his kids away with everything. Some guys have been able to move past troubles and flourish (Mateen Cleaves), while others didn't take advantage of their second-chances (Chris Allen, Korie Lucious).

As for the car, it was a completely legitimate question, especially given Nix's background. As frustrated as Izzo was by the issue, it is the duty journalists to look into that. As it turned out, there was nothing wrong. But there's a difference between journalists doing their jobs by looking into it and message board fans accusing Izzo's program of cheating. It was looked into, cleared up and that's the end of it.

Anyone who has been around Nix knows he's a great kid, a gentle giant who is not afraid to speak his mind and is full of jokes. During the 2010-11 season, I wrote a story about the relationship between him and Garrick Sherman. I called Nix's mom for the story. She was busy and told me to call back and another time, but never again answered my calls. After the story ran, Nix apologized to me for his mom not getting back to me. He also wanted to know how he could get the story (The State News is free in newsstands all around campus).

I'll never be surprised when a college kid gets in trouble with marijuana. Like Sharp, I've never smoked pot, but I'm not going to berate people who do. I know it's almost as common as alcohol in most places. Both have the potential to ruin lives, but that often comes down to the individual person. When Pat Robertson says it should be legal like alcohol, that should give you an idea of things.

But that doesn't change that Nix broke the law. He will get in trouble. When the War Drill is part of practice, I don't want to know what punishment from Izzo is. Nix will be worked. He will learn his lesson. He had been on the right track after getting in batter shape and having a solid junior season. This is a step back, but it could result in multiple steps forward.

Nix's first two seasons on the court were basically wasted because he couldn't get his weight in order. But that's what college is for. It's about growing, changing, improving. Nix has the skills the play professional basketball some day, it has always been about getting serious about priorities. I do believe Nix was serious with the tears streaming down his face at Thursday's press conference as he apologized to everyone, especially Izzo's son.

I agree with Izzo's view on role models. No one is perfect. The best role models are the ones who learn from their mistakes. I believe that is what will happen from Nix. Unless Izzo forbids it, I still expect Nix to be named a captain next season, and I also expect Nix to finally live up his potential on the court. Some people just need a wake-up call. This could finally be it for Nix.

Gary Harris named Indiana Mr. Basketball

In the closest race since 2005, MSU incoming freshman Gary Harris was named Mr. Basketball in Indiana on Sunday.

Harris picked up 154 votes, while Indiana-bound Yogi Ferrell had 103 votes. Per BTNStatsGuy, Harris is the first Indiana Mr. Basketball to head to MSU.

Harris, whose parents both went to Purdue, was heavily recruited by the home-state teams as well as Kentucky. But Harris signed with MSU, upsetting a lot of people in the Hoosier state. The shooting guard is a consensus five-star recruit and was listed as the No. 11 prospect in the country by ESPN. MSU's 2012 recruiting class is ranked No. 7 by ESPN.

Last month, fellow MSU signee Matt Costello was named Mr. Basketball in Michigan.

Report: Derrick Nix arrested, jailed

From Joe Rexrode of the Lansing State Journal, Derrick Nix was arrested Monday night for operating a vehicle in the presence of drugs and marijuana possession. Other news outlets have reported the same.

From Rexrode:

"Operating with the presence of drugs is a 93-day misdemeanor, and marijuana possession is a misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of a year in jail. Nix is out on bond and has 10 days to appear in court for an arraignment.."

MSU has released this statement from Tom Izzo:

“Based on the information we have received, Derrick Nix has been suspended indefinitely from our basketball team, and his future with our program is uncertain. He made an irresponsible decision that has put his future with our program in serious jeopardy.”

This past season for the men's basketball team was all about moving past the 2010-11 season, when two players were accused of rape (never charged), Chris Allen was kicked off the team, Korie Lucious was arrested for drunken driving (later reduced to reckless driving), then suspended indefinitely and later transferred.

Delvon Roe recently tweeted: "On a serious note sucks to hear what is going on with Nix really is a great dude. Hopes he gets back on track. Great potential"

A little more than a week after the 2011-12 season has ended, and a senior-to-be who could be a captain next season was in jail and his future with the program is uncertain. There weren't any documented issues on or off the court this past season, but the 2012 offseason is certainly off to a rocky start.

Random MSU Photo of the Day: 4/2

Tom Izzo and a teary-eyed Mateen Cleaves watch the "One Shining Moment" video after MSU won the 2000 national championship.

Photo here

NABC names Green nation's top player, Izzo top coach

All Anthony Davis everything.

Once Kentucky reached the Final Four and Davis started to win every national player of the year award, I didn't think Draymond Green had a chance. But if there was an organization that was going to honor Green, it was going to the coaches.

Sunday night, the National Association of Basketball Coaches named Green the nation's top player and Tom Izzo the nation's top coach. Green becomes the third Spartan to win a national player of the year award, joining Scott Skiles (1986, Basketball Times) and Shawn Respert (1995, NABC, Sporting News).

Earlier this season, I made the case that the national player of the year race had three candidates, not two.  Most places seemed to think it finished as a one-man race as Davis won every national award and was nearing a clean sweep. But the coaches went with the coach on the floor; the guy who did everything.

For Izzo, this is the fifth season he has won national coach of the year honors.

Here is the release from MSU:

Travis Walton replaces Alan Anderson on D-League roster

Former Spartan Alan Anderson signed a 10-day contract with the Toronto Raptors on Monday, so the Canton Charge filled the open roster spot with another former Spartan: Travis Walton.

A Lima, Ohio native, Walton has spent the last two seasons playing in Germany and Switzerland. Walton was a three-year captain at MSU from 2005-09 and was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2009. After spending some time in Europe, Walton was back at MSU the following season as a student assistant coach as MSU made its second straight Final Four. He then went back to Europe to continue playing. The Charge's next game is Thursday night.

The 29-year-old Anderson was averaging 21.5 points and 4.6 rebounds in eight games with the Charge before being signed Monday. Anderson was actually watching film with the Charge early Monday and was dressed for the Raptors later that night. He hit two free throws, grabbed a rebound and had an assist in eight minutes in Toronto's loss. He played 13 minutes in Wednesday's win, scoring seven points with one rebound and one assist.

Anderson played at MSU from 2001-05 and has been playing all over the world since. He said he was in China last season.

Here is a video of Anderson talking with Toronto media about the experience.

Thoughts on MSU basketball's 2011-12 season and looking ahead

It started with President Obama on the sideline and ended with Muhammed Ali watching from the stands.

In between, the MSU men's basketball team turned in one of the most improbable seasons in a long time. It ended with a thud, but it was full of surprises and memories.

We tend to look at any MSU season that didn't finish in the Final Four and consider it a failure (That's what Drew Sharp did before later changing his column). Sure, when a No. 1 seed doesn't reach the Final Four, it should be labeled a disappointment. But this was an MSU team that overachieved all season, and when Branden Dawson went down, the margin for error was extremely thin. It got them against Louisville.

But who saw it getting that far? Two championships and a Sweet 16, not bad for a team that began the season unranked.



It actually started in the offseason. Garrick Sherman transferred shortly after the 2010-11 season ended, joining Korie Lucious, who had been kicked off earlier that year. Then Delvon Roe announced his retirement in the summer. The Spartans were going to be shorthanded. Freshmen were going to be relied upon. The goal wasn't a Final Four. It wasn't even a Big Ten championship. It was play as well as you can and get better as the season goes on. No one knew what to expect.

Random MSU Photo of the Day 3/23

Keith Appling looks to the floor as reporters surround him after Thursday night's Sweet 16 loss to Louisville.

Photo here

Thoughts on MSU's 57-44 loss to Louisville, Draymond Green's career

(Box score here)

Kalin Lucas' eyes were starting to water.

The guard's career had just ended after he committed a traveling violation at the end of MSU's first game of the 2011 NCAA Tournament. It was MSU's worst season in more than a decade and the Spartans were bounced in the round of 64 because he had a terrible night. From the playing at the highest level, to coming back from a ruptured Achilles, Lucas had been through a lot. But his brilliant career had ended in a wreck.

The first question in the postgame press conference was asked to Lucas, and he couldn't hold the tears back any longer. He put his head down, so no one could see him. Tom Izzo was tearing up as well. After a few seconds of silence and sniffles, Draymond Green spoke up. 

"I know it had to be rough for him. I mean, I'm just going to answer from my perspective. I feel like he had a great career, and he hasn't had many games where he just couldn't get anything to fall. You know, they did a great job defensively on him. They pretty much keyed on him the whole entire defense, and he did a great job of still getting everybody else involved. He still had five assists and he did some great things for us and got me some open shots. It hurts me. You know, I'm a big fan of my guys reaching milestones, and the loss hurts me, but I think I'm kind of hurting because he came up four points short of 2,000. And for everything he did for this program, you know, I get to come back for another year so I can be sad about the loss later. I think I'm hurting more about him not getting them four points."

When reporters ran out of questions, Green let everyone know how Lucas had told him to keep his head up during his freshman year and helped Green throughout his career.

It was never about him. Over four years, Green always stuck up for his teammates, kept them involved. It was his emphasis on keeping this year's team together that helped them overachieve to heights no one expected. While Green's career also ended in a heartbreaking way, it still wasn't about him. He was the last MSU player to leave the court, congratulating all the Louisville players and high-fiving kids on the way out.

Louisville Slugfest - Previewing the Sweet 16 matchup

As someone with Italian heritage, I've always enjoyed listening to Tom Izzo or Rick Pitino talk. So often, they sound so much like my grandfather, especially the way Izzo uses his hands.

Leading up to the Elite Eight game between MSU and Louisville in 2009, I vividly remember Dick Vitale referring to the coaches as "paisanos." Even though that's not an actual word (it's slang), it got the point across that both coaches were Italian. I am surprised that I haven't heard Vitale use it this time around.

These are two of the best coaches in college basketball history, but someone's streak is going to come to an end tonight (7:47 p.m., TBS). Izzo is 5-0 against the Big East in the NCAA Tournament, while Pitino is 9-0 all-time in the Sweet 16.

(CBSSports.com highlights)


Just like the Saint Louis game, this is going to be a low-scoring game, but for different reasons.

Random MSU Photo of the Day: 3/22

Tom Izzo looks to the crowd as MSU celebrates its 64-52 victory over Louisville in the 2009 Elite Eight.

Photo here

Random MSU Photo of the Day: 3/21

Freshman guard Korie Lucious reacts as three Louisville defenders surround him during the Elite Eight game in 2009.

Photo here

The Trey Zeigler dilemma

If you haven't heard yet, Central Michigan guard Trey Zeigler has decided to transfer since his father was fired as head coach a week ago.

The Recruit Scoop tweeted that Zeigler is down to Duke, MSU, UCLA and Detroit as his options. Zeigler tweeted he is visiting Duke this weekend. He averaged 15.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists as a sophomore this past season for CMU, which finished the season 11-21 overall. Zeigler chose to play for his father at CMU over MSU, Michigan, Duke and UCLA, among others, out of high school.

Zeigler would have to sit out next season due to NCAA transfer rules, but would have two years of eligibility left. Should MSU be interested?

Green named NABC First Team All-American

Another All-America team, another honor for Draymond Green, this time from the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

Green is joined by Ohio State's Jared Sullinger as Big Ten players on the first team. Here are the three NABC teams.

Random MSU Photo of the Day: 3/20

Detroit Pershing's Derrick Nix accepts the 2009 Michigan Mr. Basketball award. Nix became the first Michigan Mr. Basketball to attend MSU since Drew Neitzel in 2004.

Photo here

MSU commit Matt Costello named Mr. Basketball

For the fourth straight year, an MSU basketball commit has been named Michigan's Mr. Basketball.

Bay City Western's Matt Costello is set to come to East Lansing next season, joining Derrick Nix and Keith Appling as Michigan Mr. Basketball winners on the Spartans' roster. Dwaun Anderson was committed to MSU at the time he won the award last season, but the passing of his mother led to him choosing not to enroll at MSU. He later enrolled at Wagner.

In Costello, MSU has a big man who can rebound and hit the outside shot. He averaged 25.1 points, 17.8 rebounds, four blocks and four assists per game this season. He also reportedly had a bit of a mean streak and can mix it up on the glass. His versatility is in the mold of Draymond Green or Alex Gauna, and Costello could take Green's spot in the starting lineup next season, although he needs to get a little stronger. He is ranked the No. 82 player in the country, according to Rivals.

Costello would be be the 12th MSU player to have won the award since it began in 1981, not including Anderson. The others are: Sam Vincent (1981), Matt Steigenga (1988), Anthony Miller (1990), Jon Garavaglia (1993), Jason Richardson (1999), Marcus Taylor (2000), Kelvin Torbert (2001), Paul Davis, (2002), Drew Neitzel (2004), Nix (2009) and Appling (2010)

Lansing Sexton's Denzel Valentine, another MSU commit, finished second for the Mr. Basketball award.

Random MSU Photo of the Day: 3/19

Tom Izzo and Korie Lucious embrace after Lucious' buzzer-beating three-pointer moved MSU into the Sweet 16 — MSU's most-recent Sweet 16 appearance before this season.

Photo here

Thoughts on MSU's 65-61 win over Saint Louis

(Box score here)

"Draymond Green does everything, including wiping the floor!"

While that anecdote was great for national writers, the real story Sunday was Keith Appling's 19 points, leading MSU to a 65-61 win over Saint Louis in the third round, advancing the Spartans to the Sweet 16. (Yes, I realize I did that exact same thing with the anecdote, but it was, you know, sarcastic).

You knew Rick Majerus would have his team ready for MSU, and the Billikens had a great gameplan. It's good to see Majerus back in the NCAA Tournament, he's one of the game's most underrated coaches. But as the coach of a mid-major team, he didn't have to talent to play MSU straight-up, he had to have a plan. The plan was to force Appling to take open jumpers. Make the struggling shooter beat you. And that's exactly what he did, shooting 7-for-14 from the field.

With the win, MSU advances to the Sweet 16 in Phoenix, where they will face No. 4 seed Louisville. It will be MSU's fourth appearance in the Sweet 16 in the last five years, and 10th in 15 years under Tom Izzo.

(CBSSports.com highlights)



Given the quality coaching and defenses on these teams, it was going to be a low-scoring game. Saint Louis players said they wanted to muck it up, and they did just that, grabbing and playing as physical as possible while forcing the refs to make (or not make) difficult calls. The Billikens didn't score a field goal until almost seven minutes into the game, but they forced MSU into some difficult shots and turnovers. The Spartans started to hit some shots, but that was only when they wouldn't turn it over.