They found him face down on the track of old Jenison Fieldhouse. In his forties. Basketball coach, family man. Dead of a heart attack. Less than two years earlier, in 1967, he had led the Michigan State Spartans Basketball team to its first Big Ten Championship in eight years. A team unable to qualify for the NCAA tournament because the automatic invite was given to co-champ Indiana because they had not been to the tournament in over eight years. Coach B was shattered. Now, on the threshold of recruiting one of the best High School players in the nation out of nearby Detroit, John Benington was gone. His dreams of bringing his Spartans to national prominence were buried with him.
The program was snakebit. Benington’s successor, Gus Ganakas endured a player walkout in 1975. The University was not pleased and relieved him of his duties the following year. Enter Jud Heathcote.
While Jud struggled his first year in East Lansing, losing to such perennial powers like Central Michigan, good news appeared on the horizon. And while rival University of Michigan thought they had the inside track to Lansing high school star Magic Johnson, when it came time to commit he chose to play for Heathcote. Much is attributed to assistant coach Vernon Payne, but Jud’s promise to let Johnson play guard sealed the deal and propelled MSU into the national spotlight overnight. And with multiple entries from conferences now allowed, the Spartans were sure to taste post-season success unlike under Benington.
After Magic’s early departure, the Spartans sank from the NCAA championship he orchestrated, coming up briefly for air in the mid eighties with a couple of NCAA tournament appearances. Jud’s biggest contribution to the cause, in addition to overseeing a new arena to replace Jenison, was the hiring of assistant Tom Izzo- who took over the reins of the program 14 seasons ago.
Five final fours and one NCAA championship later, Michigan State has achieved what Benington could have only dreamed. Their program is a model of success. Expectations run high, and the fan base is larger than ever. This weekend in Detroit rabid fans will flock to Ford Field and watch in record numbers as MSU goes for its Third NCAA Championship. With 47 wins against only 21 losses in NCAA post tourney play, along with a 12th consecutive appearance under their belt, John would be proud. Too bad he isn’t here to see it.
