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Big money: Former Michigan State basketball player donating over $30 million to Spartans Athletics
Published:
Former Michigan State basketball player Mat Ishbia is making a big donation to his alma mater.
Michigan State University has announced that Ishbia, who is the president and CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage and a former walk-on basketball player for the Spartans, is making a $32 million donation to the athletic department. It is the largest amount donated to the university at once, per The Detroit News.
Ishbia will be donating $20 million to the football program, which will allow the athletic department to expand the Skandalaris Football Center to include a performance zone, develop new lockers for players, expand the weight room and improve meeting spaces and the football auditorium.
Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press also had a breakdown:
Ishibia also tabbed:
* $2 million to create a Spartans For Life Fund to help athletes find employment after graduation
* $2 million to MSU’s Men’s Basketball Excellence Fund
* rest to create an MSU Athletics Excellence Fund— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) February 4, 2021
Along with the sizeable donation, Ishbia is requesting that the new performance zone and the basketball court at the Breslin Center be named after head coach Tom Izzo.
“On behalf of the university, we are deeply grateful to Mat and his generosity and strong commitment to a place that clearly had a strong impact on his life,” Michigan State President Samuel L. Stanley Jr said in a statement. “This is the testimony of being a Spartan — of hard work and giving back to help others also have a transformational experience at our institution for all Spartans.”
Ishbia was a member of Michigan State’s 2000 national championship team and was on Spartans teams that won three B1G titles and reached two Final Fours.
“This donation is not about me,” Ishbia said. “This is to give credit to and thank coach Tom Izzo, the business school and Michigan State University for the incredible impact they have had on my life.”
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB