Jud Heathcote: Led MSU To Its First NCAA Championship In 1979
Jud Heathcote: Led MSU To Its First NCAA Championship In 1979
Heathcote will be inducted into MSU's Athletics Hall of Fame Sept. 7.
Sept. 3, 2001
George M. (Jud) Heathcote coached the men's basketball team from 1976-95, guiding the Spartans to 340 victories, three Big Ten titles, nine NCAA Tournament berths and one national title during his 19 seasons in East Lansing. For all of his accomplishments at Michigan State, Heathcote will be one of seven former Spartans inducted to the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame on September 7, 2001. Joining Heathcote in this year's class is Jerry DaPrato (football, 1912-15), Sue Ertl (golf, 1977-80), Sherman Lewis (football/track, 1961-64), Weldon Olson (ice hockey, 1951-55), Steve Smith (basketball, 1987-91) and John D. Wilson (Football, 1950-52).
"This is a great honor to join the names on this list," said Heathcote. "It's a great time to get inducted and it's even more special to go in with one of my top players, Steve Smith."
Heathcote is the winningest coach in MSU history with a record of 340-220 (.607), including a 14-8 (.636) mark in the NCAA Tournament. His overall record was 420-273 (.606) over 24 seasons.
"I think the greatest accolade is staying at one school for so long," said Heathcote of his tenure at Michigan State. "Few coaches today do that, so it's nice to know I had some longevity in East Lansing.
"I also appreciated the great fan support," he continued. "Win or lose, the seats were usually sold out. It was nice to see that kind of consistency supporting our basketball program, and it made things easier for me along the way."
Heathcote led Michigan State to its first NCAA men's basketball championship in 1979 and won back-to-back Big Ten titles in 1978 and 1979. During those two seasons, Heathcote had the opportunity to coach one of the game's greatest players, All-American Earvin "Magic" Johnson, who propelled the Spartans to a 51-10 record in his two seasons at MSU.
A two-time Big Ten Coach of the Year (1978 and 1986), Heathcote has coached seven All-Americans (Johnson, Gregory Kelser, Jay Vincent, Sam Vincent, Scott Skiles, Steve Smith and Shawn Respert) and 22 NBA players. Five of his players won the Big Ten scoring title a total of six times. During Jud's tenure, MSU had at least one player among the first-team All-Big Ten selections in 12 of his 19 years.
He was the National Association of Basketball Coaches Coach of the Year for the 1989-90 season in which he claimed his third Big Ten championship. He was NABC District 7 Coach of the Year for the 1977-78 season and College Sport Magazine Coach of the Year his last season in 1994-95.
In his five-year stint (1971-76) as head coach of Montana, Heathcote led the Grizzlies to two Big Sky championships and was named Inland Empire Coach of the Year and Big Sky Coach of the Year in 1975. The two conference titles were the first in school history.
He served as an assistant coach of the United States Pan American team in 1975 and 1987.
Jud played varsity basketball and baseball for Washington State and was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in September of 1990. Heathcote was also inducted in May 2000 to the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.
Heathcote received the 2001 Golden Anniversary Award for 50 years of service to basketball by the NABC at the 2001 Final Four in Minneapolis. Jud was also a Silver Anniversary Award winner in 1976.
Still a Spartan supporter, Heathcote is a regular face in the crowd during MSU's run through the NCAA Tournament.
** Today marks the third installment of a seven-part series unveiling the members of the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2001. Former football and track standout Sherman Lewis will be featured on Tuesday, Sept. 4.
** The MSU Athletics Hall of Fame, which is located in the Clara Bell Smith Student-Athlete Academic Center on the campus of Michigan State University, was dedicated on Oct. 1, 1999. It is open to the general public on home football Saturdays, normally two hours after the game. The $250,000 Hall of Fame displays key moments in Spartan athletic history as well as plaques of the 72 current inductees. The charter class of 300 former Spartan athletes, coaches and administrators was inducted in 1992.