EAST LANSING, Mich. — A Cedar Springs graduate and former West Michigan high school basketball coach will be in a key role on Michigan's most elite college basketball program this upcoming season.
Tom Izzo promoted Austin Thornton to an assistant coaching role for the Michigan State Spartans.
The Spartans also added former Michigan assistant and Lansing native Saddi Washington to Izzo's coaching staff as well as promoting Jon Borovich to an assistant coaching role. Izzo also named Doug Wojcik as the team's associate head coach.
Thornton, a Cedar Springs High School graduate, played under Coach Izzo for the Spartans from 2007 to 2012. During his time at Michigan State, Thornton played on two Final Four teams and won the Big Ten Championship three times.
After his time in college, Thornton played professionally in Europe before coming back to Michigan to serve as varsity and freshman high school basketball coach at Sparta High School in 2021.
Following his short time in Sparta, Thornton returned to Michigan State as the video coordinator for the basketball program.
Thornton has been heavily involved with the Spartan's "Grind Week," which is when former Spartan basketball players return to campus to participate in workouts and scrimmages with current players.
Thornton will be stepping into his new role ahead of the 2024-25 season.
Thornton's son still lives in the West Michigan area, playing football and basketball for East Grand Rapids High School. He will be a senior in the fall.
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