Captains Lead the Way for Spartans

by Charlotte Terbrack
For MSU Athletics

For just the fifth time in Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo's 31-year career, his basketball team will be led by four captains – junior forward Coen Carr, senior center Carson Cooper, redshirt sophomore guard Jeremy Fears Jr. and senior forward Jaxon Kohler.

It's a rare configuration, but Izzo sees the four players providing their own unique leadership style, while collectively representing the heart of the program. Izzo praised the group's character and commitment, noting that each player earned the respect of their teammates through hard work and growth.

"Some years, we as a staff pick the captains," Izzo said. "But after what happened last year, we thought it was so important to let our team pick 'em. And when they did, our staff voted separately and it was identical."

Fears has been a vocal leader since arriving in East Lansing. He is known for his energy, intelligence and is focused on setting a high standard for the backcourt.

"The coaches, the guys, the staff, they trusted me, they believed in me," Fears said. "This gives me the opportunity to help and lead the team. I'm taking knowledge from past experiences and teammates, knowing I still have a long way to go, but this is a special chance, a special opportunity we have."

Izzo also mentioned how he sees legendary MSU point guard and captain Mateen Cleaves in Fears. Cleaves, of course, was part of the 2000 NCAA Championship-winning team.

"He's in my Mateen Cleves mold because he talks, let's face it, sometimes too much, but so do I," Izzo joked. "So that's why I love him."

Cooper, from Jackson, Michigan, is known for his quiet presence on and off the court and Izzo calls him the old man of the group.

"I'm probably not the most rah-rah guy," Cooper said. "I'm not one to really get in people's faces. So for me, it's figuring out my leadership style."

Despite his low-key personality, Cooper's influence is felt in more subtle ways, from helping younger players with positioning to keeping teammates focused during tough stretches.

His leadership isn't flashy, but could be just what the team needs, someone who can hold everyone accountable, inspire confidence, and prove that sometimes the loudest voices aren't the ones that make the biggest difference.

"His dream was to play here," Izzo said about Cooper's journey. "Now he got to live his dream. I'd like to see him finish the job."

Cooper's goal seems pretty simple: be consistent and be credible.

"I want to execute while having that title," Cooper said. "Not just have the title and then not be able to do anything with it. Live every day being a good leader and a good mentor."

Kohler, a senior forward, has battled injuries and adversity, which has informed his leadership style – resilience.

"I remember my freshman year, knowing that one day I would have an opportunity to be a captain only if I worked for it," Kohler said. "You have to keep your head up. You have to do the work. It's the only way you can get through this."

Izzo praised Kohler's loyalty and impact, saying that he could have transferred, but chose to say because of his love for MSU basketball. Through that love, Kohler hopes to be remembered as someone who gave everything to Michigan State basketball.

"I want my legacy to be someone who came in every day and worked as hard as he possibly could," he said.

Carr's transformation from quiet freshman to vocal junior leader has been eye-opening, going from shy, to vocal, showing his maturity on and off the court.

"I definitely was not talking when I first got here, but now I try to keep it in the back of my head, 'Gotta talk more,'" Carr said.

Izzo was thrilled when his teammates voted him as one of the four captains. "Coen was the guy I needed to step up, and Coen has stepped up incredibly well," Izzo said. "He talks now as much as anybody."

Carr's vision for team culture is rooted in Spartan tradition. "We're gonna rebound, run, be tough, play defense," he said. "That's what past championship teams did."

From Izzo and past players, Carr also learned the importance of toughness.

"I feel like toughness is definitely one of the foundations that we have at this program. So just being tough and never backing down and always, always being ready for whatever," he said. "(I want to be remembered as…) a good player and a great person. If I get those two things, I'm good."

With four captains leading the way, Michigan State isn't just chasing wins, they're building a legacy.

"Even though it's only happened five times, I think they got it right," Izzo said. "And I'm excited to work with those guys."

Michigan State University Athletics

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Coen Carr

Carson Cooper

Jeremy Fears Jr.

Jaxon Kohler

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