2 Spartans inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame

On Friday, two former Spartan legends were announced as part of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame class for 2025. While one did their work on the basketball court, the other prowled the sidelines for the Spartans, with each taking Michigan State athletics to greater heights.

Additionally, the late Andy Isaac, a publicly known Spartan fan, will receive the Courage Award.

Another much-deserved Mark Dantonio accolade

Mark Dantonio, for the second consecutive year, will be inducted into a Hall of Fame in Michigan. This time, however, it is the state-sponsored Hall, as opposed to last year’s honor, which was for Michigan State University Athletics. “Coach D” became the winningest coach in Michigan State football history, winning 114 games on the sidelines for the green and white.

Dantonio’s teams were known for their toughness, defensive dominance, resilience, and the ability to have a little bit of luck fall their way. Whether it came from big play calls (“Little Giants,” to upset Notre Dame, which sent the coach to the hospital for a heart attack), or luck (“Rangers: Mission 4:10,” better known as “Trouble with the Snap” against Michigan), Dantonio was behind some of the most iconic Big Ten football moments of the 2010s.

Dantonio ultimately ended his MSU career with 3 conference titles, alongside an additional divisional title, two New Years’ Six wins (2014 Rose Bowl and 2015 Cotton Bowl), and the Spartans’ first-ever College Football Playoff berth. He becomes the fourth Spartan football coach to be honored in the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, joining Biggie Munn (class of 1961), Duffy Daughtery (1992), and George Perles (2007).

Jason Richardson gets recognition

The other Spartan being honored is no slouch, either. Jason Richardson, a two-year star with the Spartans that preceded a 13-season NBA career, will be standing alongside Dantonio this winter.

Richardson is being honored for his accolades as both a high school and collegiate star. The Saginaw, Mich., native won a high school title with Saginaw Arthur Hill in 1999, then came off the bench as a true freshman for the Spartans during their route to the NCAA Championship the following year.

Richardson followed that up with a second-team All-American nod and All-Big Ten team selection in 2001, averaging 14.7 points per game in his only full year as a Spartan starter. Those accolades joined his 1999 Mr. Basketball honor from the state of Michigan. He declared for the NBA Draft following his sophomore campaign and was taken fifth overall.

Richardson followed up his collegiate career with an All-Rookie team selection with the Golden State Warriors, and then two Slam Dunk Contest Titles during a career that saw him start all but 15 of his 857 career games and average 17.1 points.

He’s since been back to his alma mater routinely, especially this last season, watching his son (you may know him) Jase Richardson, light up the Big Ten in his only collegiate season before heading to the NBA himself.

Late Spartan fan Andy Isaac also honored

The two Spartans will join Chris Chelios, Rasheed Wallace, John Lowe, Dave Dombrowski, and Claressa Shields to complete the class. Additionally, late Michigan State Spartan superfan Andy Isaac will be honored with the Courage Award after his positive and humorous outlook that inspired others from teams to fellow fans, despite his long battle with cancer.

The induction ceremony takes place on December 19 at the MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit.