Tom Izzo wants you to know he will cooperate with any investigation.
Beyond that, he has few answers.
The Michigan State head basketball coach was dealt a barrage of questions over the university’s handling of allegations of sexual assault against former players after his team’s 74-68 victory over Maryland on Sunday afternoon, and he was more prepared for the Terrapins than the questions.
Izzo was asked about former point guard Travis Walton, who was an undergraduate student assistant coach under Izzo in 2010, a year after graduating. Last week, ESPN reported he was charged with assault and battery that year for allegedly punching a woman at a bar. Walton was allowed to continue coaching and traveling with the team.
“We’ll cooperate with any investigation and always have,” Izzo said in College Park. “We’ve done it before, and we’ll do it moving forward. That’s about all I’m going to say on it, that we did cooperate with everything.”
In another incident later that year, Walton and two players were accused of rape, according to ESPN. The accuser told counselors, not police, and her parents told then-athletic director Mark Hollis.
Walton soon after left the program without explanation. Izzo was asked why he left.
“I don’t know what you mean — he graduated,” Izzo said, before a reporter brought up the alleged rape. “To be honest with you, I don’t remember why he left. I know he went to Europe to play. As you know, I’ll still say I’ll cooperate with any investigation that’s made. I did it then, I did it before. I’m not going to answer any questions that aren’t pertaining to either basketball or things that I’m not going to talk about right now.”
The university has been under fire for employing disgraced doctor Larry Nassar, who sexually assaulted gymnasts. Hollis and school president Lou Anna Simon are out, and the spotlight has turned to the coaches, both Izzo and football head man Mark Dantonio, as more charges of the university sweeping allegations under the rug have emerged.
A flustered Izzo was asked if he had any regrets about how he has handled his program.
“I’ve cooperated with every investigation,” he repeated after a pause. “Every one. And I will continue to cooperate with every investigation. Every one.”
Izzo always tried to bring the topic back to basketball. He said even doing that was difficult for him.
“It’s been hard to focus in on basketball,” Izzo said, “because when I do, I feel guilty.”