Name: MSU Athletics: All-Access
Start: 2024-06-07T11:00:00+00:00
End: 2024-06-07T17:00:00+00:00
Location: Little Caesars Arena

ALAN HALLER

Vice President & Director of Athletics

Michigan State University

Vice President & Director of Athletics

Michigan State University

A professional administrator with more than 25 years of experience in athletics, law enforcement and higher education, Alan Haller was appointed Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics on Sept. 1, 2021.

A former MSU football player and member of the track and field team as well as a former cornerback in the NFL, Haller joined MSU Athletics in 2010, following a 13-year career with the MSU Department of Police and Public Safety.

The 2023-24 athletic year has been one of historic success for Spartan athletics. With spring sports not yet finished, MSU has captured six Big Ten Championships across four sports in 2023-24, matching the school record (2004-05 and 2013-14) for most conference titles in a single year. Women’s cross country, women’s soccer, women’s gymnastics and men’s ice hockey all captured Big Ten Championships, with gymnastics and hockey winning both the regular-season and postseason crowns. The cross country, soccer and gymnastics teams also won Big Ten titles in 2022-23.

Some of the recent Spartan success is truly unprecedented as the soccer and gymnastics titles in 2022-23 were the first official Big Ten championships in those programs’ history. The 2023-24 hockey championships marked the Spartans’ first ever Big Ten title (since conference play began in 2013-14), their first conference crown since 2001 and first postseason conference championship since 2006. For women’s cross country, the Spartans have won four of the last five Big Ten Championships.

Athletic department success extends well beyond the field of competition and into the classroom. Spartan student-athletes posted a 3.3188 cumulative GPA in the fall, marking the highest-ever post-fall cumulative GPA, and the second-highest all-time department cumulative GPA behind only the Spring ’23 mark of 3.3286. A remarkable 519 athletes (79% of the student-athlete population) earned a 3.0 or higher fall semester GPA. The all-department fall semester GPA of 3.3389 was the fourth-best semester GPA and the best-ever non-pandemic aided fall semester.

Academic success can also be measured through graduation, where Spartan athletics also excels. MSU’s Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 91% is just one percent below the school’s all-time high of 92%, and is the fifth consecutive year of 90% or better. The Federal Graduation Rate (FGR) of 81% is the department’s all-time high. The 81% FGR also ranks third highest among public institutions in Power 5 conferences. Of the public institutions in the Power 5 with a FGR of 80% or better, Michigan State is the only one whose student-athletes matched the rate of the student body.

The Spartans won three Big Ten Championships in 2022-23, and six teams earned team NCAA postseason bids. The women’s soccer team had its most successful season in history, winning a school-record 17 games, reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament, and claiming the first officially recognized regular-season Big Ten title in program history. The women’s cross country team won its third Big Ten Championship in four years and the gymnastics program delivered another record-breaking season, winning its first-ever Big Ten regular-season title while finishing No. 11 in the final rankings. The men’s basketball team extended its Big Ten record with its 25th consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament while making the Sweet 16, the women’s golf team won its first-ever NCAA Regional, and the men’s golf team hosted an NCAA Regional.

The Spartans also continued their excellence in the classroom in 2022-23, extending the department’s run of compiling over a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average for the 25th straight semester. In the spring of 2023, the department compiled a record-breaking cumulative 3.3286 GPA, the highest in school history. In addition, the spring semester GPA of 3.3594 was the third-best semester-only GPA for the department and the 21st straight semester of over a 3.0 GPA. Nineteen teams delivered a 3.0 semester GPA and 20 teams maintained a 3.0 cumulative GPA, including seven programs (women’s golf, women’s cross country, softball, rowing, women’s basketball, men’s track and field, football) that posted their highest cumulative GPA in team history. In addition, 371 student-athletes were recognized on the Academic All-Big Ten team, including a conference-best 11 honorees with perfect 4.0 GPAs in the fall, and 134 earned Big Ten Distinguished Scholar honors.

In his first year as athletic director in 2021-22, Michigan State finished 41st in the Learfield Directors’ Cup standings, the highest finish for the department since 2014-15. The football team won 11 games for just the sixth time in school history and finished in the top 10 of the national polls (No. 8 Coaches, No. 9 AP) after beating No. 12 Pitt in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, marking MSU’s second New Year’s Six bowl win. Six teams earned team NCAA postseason bids, including men’s and women’s cross country, men’s basketball, gymnastics, and men’s and women’s golf. The men’s basketball team extended its Big Ten record with its 24th consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament, while the gymnastics team posted a team-record score and a program-best final ranking of No. 9 in the nation.

Now in his 14th year overall with MSU Athletics, Haller was promoted to Deputy Athletic Director in 2019 after serving as the Chief of Staff and Senior Associate Athletic Director the previous three years.

As a member of the department’s senior executive staff, Haller’s career in athletics placed him in numerous leadership positions. His role as Assistant Vice President and Deputy Athletic Director had him responsible for coordination of external relations, capital projects, athletics facilities, and event management. He assisted with the department financial planning and management of the budget, led the facilities planning team, oversaw coordination and completion of a facility master plan, and supervised all athletics construction projects in addition to being a senior advisor to the Athletic Director.

Haller has extensive experience working directly with teams as a sport administrator, including football. He previously led the senior staff/sport administrator group responsible for administration of all varsity sports and provided leadership, direction, and supervision to sport supervisors.

As the head administrator of the external relations team, Haller worked closely with athletic communications, marketing and the Spartan Fund to coordinate all aspects of planning, implementation, execution and measurement of the goals and objectives of the department’s external units.

Haller also works directly with campus leadership in providing guidance to the department on a wide range of issues, including serving as a liaison to the General Counsel’s Office, Office of Institutional Equity, Residential and Hospitality Services, Student Affairs, and student governing organizations. He led the reopening/return to campus planning for Athletics Department in 2020 and is currently on committees for the Community Relations Committee; Race, Diversity and Inclusion Group; and the Clery Compliance Committee.

A former Spartan football letterwinner, Haller’s relationships with current and former student-athletes continues to be an important asset for the athletic department and the overall well-being of the student-athletes. He also helps manage student-athlete conduct and accountability.

Haller joined the athletic department as an Associate Athletic Director in 2010. In 2015, he was promoted to Senior Associate Athletic Director, and added Chief of Staff to his title in 2017.

Haller led the transition of the Varsity ‘S’ Club into being a fully integrated part of the MSU Athletics Department when was named the executive director in January 2013. The Varsity ‘S’ Club previously was run entirely by volunteer Spartan letterwinners. With the utilization of the resources of the athletics department, the collaboration has enhanced the club’s ability to gather and engage all Spartan letterwinners through more involved interaction.

Prior to his appointment in athletics, Haller was a 1st Lt. for the MSU Police Department and served on the force for 13 years. While serving as a 1st Lt. for the MSU Police Department, Haller was in charge of the Uniform Division, which is the largest component of the department.

A four-year letterman as a cornerback for Coach George Perles from 1988-91, Haller earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors as both a junior and senior and made three postseason bowl appearances with the Spartans (1989 Gator, 1989 Aloha and 1990 John Hancock). The former Lansing (Mich.) Sexton star, who also lettered in track at MSU, was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fifth round of the 1992 National Football League Draft. Haller spent three seasons in the NFL, playing for Cleveland (1992), Pittsburgh (1992-93) and Carolina (1995).

During the football coaching search in 2006, Haller played a key role in the hiring process of Mark Dantonio, who went on to become the winningest coach in Spartan history, joining former MSU Athletics Director Ron Mason, head men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo, and Mark Hollis on the selection team.

Haller holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Michigan State and a master’s degree in human resources from Central Michigan.

ADAM NIGHTINGALE

Head Coach, Men’s Ice Hockey

Michigan State University

HEAD COACH, MEN'S ICE HOCKEY

Michigan State University

Its difficult to overstate the impact that Adam Nightingale has had on the Michigan State hockey program since his hiring in May 2022. The Spartan head coach and his staff have rekindled the program’s “Commitment to Excellence” as preached by Ron Mason, which in turn has not only has reinvigorated the local community’s support of the program, but also returned Michigan State to its place among college hockey’s elite with eyes set on sustained Big Ten and national success.

The hallmarks of the Nightingale regime include consistent player development and improvement and a keen attention to fostering strong relationships within the campus and surrounding community.

Inheriting a team that won just 12 games in the season before he returned to East Lansing, Nightingale earned the program’s first post-season victories in a decade in his first campaign and improved the team by six wins. In 2023-24, he guided the Spartans to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in a dozen years and captured both the regular season and Big Ten Tournament titles, earning more victories than in any season since 2008. In his first two seasons, he owns a 43-28-5 overall record (.583), second-best among all MSU coaches through two seasons - only Rick Comley (46-31-4) has more wins in his first two campaigns.

The success on the ice has the surrounding community recalling the best days of the Spartan hockey program, where sellouts were the norm at Munn Ice Arena. In 2023-24, Michigan State welcomed 110,117 people through the turnstiles in its 17 home games, (10th nationally), averaging 6,482 per game, (sixth). Michigan State has sold out 23 of its last 24 home games and 21 consecutive home games against Big Ten opponents dating back to January 2023.

Nightingale’s coaching trajectory includes quality experience at every level of competitive hockey - international, professional, collegiate and youth. Whether at the top high school for developing young talent (Shattuck-St. Mary’s), the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP), collegiately at Michigan State, and with experience as both a video and bench coach in the NHL, the Spartan mentor has built a reputation of exceptional player development. At every steo of his career, Nightingale has developed strong recruiting ties and professional relationships through all levels of hockey, helping him identify, coach, and develop young talent to reach their goals both on the ice and for life beyond hockey.

Adam Nightingale The 2024 Big Ten Coach of the Year and Spencer Penrose National Coach of the Year finalist guided the Spartans to Big Ten regular-season and tournament titles, the first for the program on both fronts. His squad finished the 2023-24 campaign with a 25-10-3 record (16-6-2 B1G), the most victories since 2007-08. Michigan State captured its first regular-season league title in 23 seasons and its first postseason tournament trophy since 2006, and advanced to the NCAA regional final. A total of six Spartans earned All-Big Ten postseason awards, and Artyom Levshunov was named an All-American, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

Levshunov, ranked second among North American Skaters in advance of the 2024 draft and was one of two MSU regulars who were the youngest at their position in the country - freshman netminder Trey Augustine backstopped the Spartans with a .915 save percentage and led the nation with 1113 saves, earning a spot as a finalist for the Mike Richter Award as the nation’s top goaltender and also picking up Second Team All-Big Ten honors.

Nightingale has been building East Lansing and the Spartan hockey program into a developmental destination. Over his first two seasons, a total of 18 veteran players have posted career-best offensive numbers and Spartan freshmen have been among the most impactful players at their positions anywhere in the country.

Nightingale’s goal to recreate a culture of winning hockey within the Spartan program took a huge step forward in his first season. Winning 18 games – the third-most for a first-year head coach in program history – the Spartans finished in fifth place in the Big Ten standings after being selected seventh in the pre-season coaches poll. The squad posted a six-win improvement from the 2021-22 campaign, which was also the most victories for a Spartan team in more than a decade. In the postseason, Michigan State earned its first-ever Big Ten Tournament victory over Notre Dame, and went on to defeat the Irish in the best-of-three quarterfinal series to earn their way into the semifinals against top-ranked Minnesota. Nightingale was one of three finalists for Big Ten Coach of the Year at season’s end.

While asking his charges to focus on process and improvement, nine Spartans posted career-best offensive numbers during Nightingale’s first season and .
The summer of 2023 yielded a pair of NHL draft picks - MSU had two picks in the top two rounds of the same draft for the first time since 2006. Trey Augustine (41st overall, Detroit Red Wings) and Maxim Štrbák (45th overall, Buffalo Sabres) went just four picks apart in the second round.

Prior to coming back to his alma mater, Nightingale served as head coach at the US National Team Development Program in Plymouth, Mich. Guiding some of the top talent in world in the age group, he led his team to a silver medal at the U.S. Under-18 Men’s World Championships in 2022. His roster boasted 22 Division I commitments.
Nightingale has supported seven U.S. teams on the international stage, which includes his head coaching duties with the U18’s in 2022 and as a coach for the bronze medal-winning 2021 U.S. Men’s World Championship Team. Previously, he was video coach for the U.S. Men’s National Team three consecutive years (2017-19), including for the bronze medal-winning 2018 squad. He was also the video coach for the 2015 U.S. National Junior Team.

Mor Nightingale Prior to his time with the USNTDP, the Cheboygan, Michigan, native spent four seasons on NHL staffs. From 2017-20, he was a member of the Detroit Red Wings organization. As an assistant coach in 2019-20, he was responsible for player development, pre-scouting opponents and running the penalty kill. He worked as the video coach for his first two years in Detroit, a role he also held for the Buffalo Sabres in 2016-17.

Before joining the pro ranks, Nightingale served as head coach of the Shattuck-St. Mary’s 14U (Bantam) Team in Faribault, Minnesota for two seasons (2014-16), leading the team to a national championship in 2016 as well as two years (2008-10) as the head coach of the Shattuck midget AA squad.

Between his stints at Shattuck, Nightingale was the director of hockey operations at Michigan State, serving at his alma mater overseeing all team video as well as team travel.

While he began his collegiate career at Lake Superior State, (2000-02), the final two seasons of Nightingale’s collegiate playing career came at Michigan State (2003-05). Over a combined 118 games, he totaled 37 points (18g-19a). At MSU, he served as alternate captain for both of his playing seasons, and won the Spartan Fitness Award in 2004. Nightingale then went on to play parts of four seasons in the ECHL with the Gwinnett Gladiators, Greenville Grrrowl and Charlotte Checkers.

Nightingale’s family includes his wife, Kristin, and three children, Trevor, Emmerson and Keeton. His older brother, Jason, is the Assistant Director of Amateur Scouting for the Buffalo Sabres, while his younger brother, Jared, is also a Spartan alumnus and is currently the assistant coach for the Rockford Ice Hogs of the AHL.L.

TOM IZZO

Head Coach

Michigan State University

Head Coach

Michigan State University

Tom Izzo was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on September 9, 2016, cementing his status as one of the game’s all-time greats. The upcoming 2024-25 season will mark his 30th as the Spartans’ head coach.

Izzo has compiled an impressive list of accomplishments in 29 seasons as head coach of the Michigan State men’s basketball program, including the 2000 NCAA National Championship, 10 regular-season Big Ten Championships (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2018, 2019 and 2020), six Big Ten Tournament titles (1999, 2000, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2019), eight Final Four appearances (1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015 and 2019), eight National Coach of the Year awards and a Big Ten-record 26-straight NCAA Tournament appearances.

When the Spartans were selected for the 2024 NCAA Tournament, it extended the program’s streak to 26-straight appearances, continuing an active Big Ten and is officially recognized by the NCAA as the nation’s longest current streak. Michigan State’s streak of 26-straight NCAA Tournaments is also the third-longest in NCAA history.

With a career record of 707-295, it’s easy to see that Izzo knows how to win, but he also knows how to win the right way. In his 29 years directing the Spartan program, 86 percent of his players who completed their eligibility also left with a degree. In the last 29 years, 69 Spartans have received their undergraduate degrees.

Izzo’s 707 wins are fourth most by any coach in his first 29 seasons in the history of college basketball. In November 2009, he passed his mentor Jud Heathcote (340 wins) to become MSU’s all-time winningest coach. In the NCAA Tournament, Izzo is at his best, winning at a clip of .691 to rank third among all active coaches with at least 10 tournament games coached. His 56 NCAA Tournament wins are the most ever for a Big Ten coach, and rank sixth all-time. In 2021-22, the Spartans beat Maryland in the regular season finale for Izzo’s 663rd win, making him the Big Ten leader in overall wins. On Jan. 30, 2024, MSU beat Michigan for Izzo’s 700th career win, making him the first Big Ten head coach to reach 700 wins at one school and the 38th coach in Division I history to reach that mark.

A 2015 inductee into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, Izzo led MSU to seven Final Four appearances between 1999 and 2015, becoming just the fourth school in college basketball history to do it in any 17-year span, including just the third since the tournament field expanded to 64 teams in 1985. His eight Final Four appearances rank fifth all-time, first among active coaches, first all-time among Big Ten coaches and the most for any coach since 1996.

A 1977 graduate of Northern Michigan, Izzo joined the Spartan program as an assistant coach in 1983. After 12 seasons as an assistant, the 1995-96 campaign marked his first season as head coach.

ROBYN FRALICK

Head Coach, Women’s Basketball

Michigan State University

HEAD COACH, WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Michigan State University

Bringing with her a proven track record of success and program building, Robyn Fralick was announced as Michigan State’s new women’s basketball head coach on Friday by MSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Alan Haller on March 31, 2023.

She wasted no time in making history, becoming the first MSU women's basketball coach to make the NCAA Tournament in her first season. Michigan State ended the 2023-24 season with a 22-9 record, which was its most since the 2015-16 season.

Fralick is the sixth coach in Spartan women’s basketball history. In nine seasons as a head coach, Fralick holds an overall record of 214-85 (.716).

“This is a great day for Spartan women’s basketball as we welcome Robyn Fralick to our Spartan Family,” said Haller upon her hiring. “Her resume speaks for itself, both in the historic success and championships she captured at Ashland and the job she did turning around the program at Bowling Green, not only capturing a championship but also creating an expectation of postseason success. Beyond that, Robyn possesses the ability to connect individually with student-athletes in order to maximize their abilities, while also bringing everyone together to create team success.

“Although she grew up in our community and we couldn’t be more excited to bring her home, it’s important to note that she’s respected nationally. That became evidently clear throughout this process during conversations with individuals throughout the women’s basketball community."

In her first season in the Green and White, Fralick's squad exceeded expectations with not just the 22-9 record, but a 12-6 mark in Big Ten action. Four Spartans captured All-Big honors led by sophomore Theryn Hallock earning the second-ever Sixth Player of the Year honors. Guard/forward Julia Ayrault captured first-team all-conference honors, while guards Moira Joiner and DeeDee Hagemann both garnered second-team accolades.
She came to MSU after directing the Bowling Green program the last five seasons, guiding the Falcons to an 88-73 record (including 69-31 over the last three seasons) and three postseason appearances. Last season, Fralick led BGSU to a 31-7 record, matching the school and Mid-American Conference records for most wins in a single season.

The Falcons made a historic run in 2022-23, advancing to the WNIT Fab 4, before falling in the semifinals.
Fralick, who owns a career record of 192-76, was named MAC Coach of the Year in 2021 after leading the Falcons to one of the nation’s top turnarounds. BGSU went from 10-21 in 2020 to 21-8 the next season. She led her squad to a MAC regular-season championship in year three of her tenure after inheriting a program that had four straight losing seasons prior to her arrival. The Falcons also earned a berth in the 2021 WNIT.

In 2021-22, BGSU lost nearly 75 player-games to injury, but Fralick still guided the Falcons to 10 MAC wins, a 17-16 overall record, and an appearance in the 2022 Women’s Basketball Invitational (WBI).

In late 2018, Fralick was named the recipient of the C. Vivian Stringer Coaching Award. The award is presented to an individual who has experienced outstanding achievement as a coach for female teams. The award's website indicates that the winner exhibits "a high standard of propriety, imagination, and innovation as a character-builder in the tradition of great teacher-coaches."

Prior to Bowling Green, Fralick had an unprecedented run as the head coach at Ashland University. In three seasons (2015-16 to 2017-18), she accumulated an overall record of 104-3 (.972), which was the highest winning percentage in NCAA history at any level (minimum of 100 games coached). Overall, she spent 10 seasons at Ashland as both an assistant and head coach with the Eagles earning a 267-59 record during that time.

Fralick and the Eagles advanced to the NCAA Division II national championship game four times between 2012 and 2018, winning national championships in both 2013 and 2017. The Eagles were the National Runner-Up in both 2012 and 2018. AU won 73 consecutive games, the longest streak in NCAA Division II history, before a loss in the 2018 national title game.
Her coaching career also includes stops on the staffs at Appalachian State (2004-05), Western Michigan (2005-07) and Toledo (2007-08).

She is a 2004 graduate of Davidson, having earned her undergraduate degree in psychology with a minor in religion. At the end of her four-year playing career, she left Davidson among the career leaders in assists (4th), steals (8th) and free-throw percentage (12th). Fralick earned her master’s degree in counselor education from Western Michigan in 2007.

A native of Okemos, Michigan, the former Robyn Flewelling had a storied career at Okemos High School. She garnered second-team all-state honors and was named to the All-Michigan Fifth Team as a senior. In addition to her basketball honors, she was named all-league in soccer as well as honorable mention all-league in softball. She was named to the Okemos High School Hall of Fame in 2017.

Fralick and husband, Tim, have two children, Will and Clara.

LEAH JOHNSON

Head Coach, Women’s Volleyball

Michigan State University

ABOUT THIS MEETING

Spartan student-athletes had remarkable success on and off the field in the recently concluded academic year. Leading MSU teams are an AD and head coaches that are the envy of many college athletic programs around the country. They are doing so while facing the headwinds of transformative change in college athletics.