How do you explain the extraordinary career of Mike Iuzzolino?
Talent? Of course. Focus? Absolutely. But when you strip away everything else, it simply comes down to this: hard work.
“Success in anything is not just about effort. It’s about sustained effort! No days off!”
Mike Iuzzolino outworked everyone else on his way living his dream at the highest level. And today, he spends his days passing on this incredible work ethic and philosophy to the next generation of athletes.
It’s all about paying it back to the game he loves. It’s all about continuing to work hard every day.
The story of Mike Iuzzolino is the ultimate underdog story. It centers around the game of basketball. But it is not a basketball story. It is a story of reaching your potential, in any field of work, through grit and dedication.
“I tell my kids all the time that I wanted to be the best at what I did. The job didn’t matter. If I worked at McDonald’s, I’d work to be the best fry and hamburger guy around!”
But Mike did not channel his passion into flipping burgers. He channeled it into basketball. And his talent and work ethic took him on an unforgettable journey from Western Pennsylvania to Verona, Italy and back again.
Fueling the Fire
Mike Iuzzolino was a 5’10 sharp-shooting point guard out of Altoona (Pa.) High. A star in high school, he dreamed of playing at the next level in college and wanted to stay close to home. When Penn State University offered him a scholarship, he accepted immediately.
But the pyramid gets a little steeper in college. Once there, Mike wasn’t getting a lot of playing time and wasn’t making an impact on the team. The frustration was palpable.
“In retrospect, Penn State was too high a level for me at that time. But I didn’t see it that way back then.”
It was a difficult time for Mike. He knew he could contribute. He knew he could impact the game. He needed a second chance. And he found it in the form of Coach Jim Baron.
Coach Baron had worked under legendary coach Digger Phelps at Notre Dame. He had journeyed to coach basketball at tiny St. Francis College, just 17 miles from Mike’s hometown of Altoona. As Mike Iuzzolino explored his options beyond Penn State, his eyes naturally turned toward St. Francis and Coach Baron.
They both had come from a tough background. And they were both fiercely competitive.
“Coach Baron pumped a lot of life in me. He refueled my love of basketball.”
Mike transferred to Saint Francis the next Fall. The move had a profound impact on Mike and galvanized a work ethic that was always present.
“From that point on, I was focused on two things: proving people wrong and winning championships. That chip on my shoulder fueled my fire.”
There was only one thing to do. He hit the gym. First to arrive. Last to leave. No days off.
Assistant Coaches Joe Lombardi and John Sanow, who went on to become successful head coaches in their own right, worked hand-in-hand with Coach Baron. Mike stepped up his game and became a star in the Northeast Athletic Conference. And, more importantly, the team started coming together. Something magical was happening in Western Pennsylvania.
In 1991, during Mike’s senior season, that magic came to fruition. St. Francis rolled through the season, winning their final 16 games in a row en route to capturing the Northeast Conference Championship. The school of less than two thousand students would now face Fordham for the right to play in the NCAA Tournament.
“St. Francis participated in essentially the first NCAA play-in game. Everything was on the line.”
St. Francis stifled Fordham at crunch time and emerged victorious in front of a capacity home crowd. For the first (and only!) time in team history, they would play in the NCAA Tournament. It was an implausible dream come true.
In the first round, St. Francis faced perennial powerhouse Arizona. Could they shock the world?
Arizona had 4 or 5 future NBA players, including Sean Rooks and Chris Mills, and had their sights set on the National Championship. St. Francis battled valiantly but ultimately lost.
And this is where the story should end for Mike Iuzzolino. A tough, under-sized point guard leads a tiny school near his hometown to a historic run to the NCAA post-season.
But Mike Iuzzolino’s journey was only beginning.
Living the Dream
Mike Iuzzolino’s college accolades continued to roll in. First Team All-Northeast Conference. Northeast Conference Player of the Year. And then the big one: Playboy All-American.
1991 Playboy College Basketball All-American Team.
Mike was asked to fly down for a photo shoot with his fellow All-Americans, including dominant players such as Stacy Augmon, Alonzo Mourning, and Kenny Anderson. And Mike roomed with future Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal during the weekend. Not bad company for a 5’10 kid from Altoona, Pa!
The experience of that weekend, surrounded by future NBA talent, planted another seed in Mike Iuzzolino’s mind. Could he possibly take his game to the ultimate next level?
Coach Jim Baron always believed he could. He arranged an invitation for Iuzzolino to attend the Portsmouth Combine, the first level of evaluation for prospective NBA players.
Mike was happy to be there. But he wanted to prove to his coach and prove to everyone else that he deserved to be there.
After an outstanding performance at the Portsmouth Combine, he was immediately contacted by 20 agents. Could this be happening?
Iuzzolino was approached by Keith Glass, one of the many agents vying for his business. He was impressed with Mike’s game. But his message to Iuzzolino was blunt: I can’t do anything for you until you do it on the floor.
“That advice really stuck with me. I knew I had to take care of my business before anyone could take care of me. It really helped me focus on my game. We remain friends today.”
Mike Iuzzolino made an impact at the Orlando Combine and the Chicago Combine, the final two levels of evaluation. He had a trusted agent. It was time to see if he could turn his dream into a reality. The 1991 NBA Draft loomed. Would the name “Iuzzolino” be called?
Yes. Mike Iuzzolino was selected with the 35th pick by the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Draft. The dream was alive.
Of course, he still had to make the team. It was time to get back to work.
The Mavericks were led by their affable coach, Richie Adubato, and had blue collar professional veterans such as Derek Harper and Rolando Blackman. It was the perfect fit.
Iuzzolino made the team. But he only appeared in one game of the first eighteen at the beginning the ’91-’92 season.
“I was no longer the star. It was another difficult time. But I still believed that I belonged. And I knew I had to work harder than ever.”
Working harder instead of sulking? A refreshing concept!
The hard work paid dividends. Mike appeared in the 19th game and made the most of his minutes, scoring, passing, hustling. With this confidence, he took his game to the next level. And kept grinding with sustained effort.
Iuzzolino went on to start in forty games that year averaging 35 minutes and 9 points a game. He wasn’t just on the team. He was now impacting the game. He belonged.
Keeping the Faith
The next season for the Mavericks was more of the same. Iuzzolino was a significant contributor, consistent scorer and solid “character guy” for the franchise. The sky was the limit.
But the next year, he saw how quickly the tide can turn in the NBA. The Mavericks brought in a new coach and they did not renew Iuzzolino’s contract. He went over to the Orlando Magic but was cut on the last day. After two hugely productive seasons, Mike Iuzzolino was out of the NBA.
But his playing days were far from over. Mike caught on with the Continental Basketball Association (CBA). First with Coach Bill Musselman and the Rochester Renegades and then Coach Rick Berry and the Fort Wayne Fury. Iuzzolino kept the faith. And continued to work.
He got another shot at the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers the following season. Coach Adubato was there as an assistant under Mike Fratello. It seemed like another perfect fit.
“Only problem was, they already had two shorter point guards in Mark Price and Tyrell Brandon. Where did I fit in?”
Ultimately, he didn’t. Once again, Mike Iuzzolino was cut on the last day of tryouts.
He reached deep one more time to keep the faith. It was back to the CBA and Coach Eric Musselman (Bill’s son) of the Rapid City Thrillers. Would this be his last stop?
Another Shot at Glory
In 1995, Mike Iuzzolino’s professional basketball career was coming to an end.
“I wasn’t sure I could play anymore if I couldn’t impact the game.”
But during that season, there was a need for a point guard in Verona, Italy on the Scaligera Verona Professional Team. It was a one-month contract to substitute for an injured player. Why not?
Mike took a chance and flew over to Italy to continue his career. He was going to make the most of this month.
Once there, Mike hit his stride. His contract was extended by another two months. Then for the rest of the year. His energy and enthusiasm went through the roof.
Italy held a special place in his heart. It was not just about the game. In his second season, Iuzzolino suffered a foot injury and had to fly back home for additional care. Once back in Pennsylvania, he met his future wife, Dana. Love of Italy brought them together. And love of the game brought them back to Italy to continue his remarkable career.
“I can’t tell you how much those years meant to me. That was my new home. I will always cherish my time in Verona.”
Mike became a local legend and ended up starring for four magical years in Italy. He went on to play one year in Rome, one year in Milan and two more years in Spain. Through it all, Mike Iuzzolino never stopped working. He didn’t take any days off. He gave sustained effort. And he kept the faith through times of doubt and discouragement. Now that is resilience.
Mike Iuzzolino had a dream. And that dream became a reality. When it was all said and done, he had played twelve glorious years as a professional basketball player. Sustained effort to any cause pays off!
Life After Basketball
For most professional athletes, transitioning to “normal” life after their sports careers are over is a brutal process. For Mike Iuzzolino, it was relatively simple.
“Basketball is not who I am, it is what I did.”
Yes, he missed the adrenaline of performing in the arena. Yes, he missed his teammates. But a lot of the physical rush was replaced by his marathon training. Mike was relentless in his preparation. He ultimately completed 4 marathons, including the Boston Marathon one year before the bombing incident. Hard work.
But basketball was still part of Mike Iuzzolino’s DNA. He loved the game. He loved being around the players. He would be a natural coach. But where would he begin? How about Western Pennsylvania!
Iuzzolino began his coaching career as an assistant with the Duquesne Women’s Basketball Team. He next moved to the George Mason Women’s team before spending three years at Division III St. Vincent’s College for the men’s team. The grind continued.
But it was none other than Coach Jim Baron who gave Iuzzolino his first break at the Division I Men’s level.
Baron was now the head coach at Canisius College. In 2014, he brought Iuzzolino on as an assistant.
“Coaching, like playing, is a daily grind. You have to give your best effort every day. That came naturally to me!”
He remained at Canisius for two years. But when a job opened at Robert Morris University, just outside of Pittsburgh, he jumped at the chance to once again get back to Western Pennsylvania.
As an assistant coach involved in both player and life development, Iuzzolino has a unique opportunity to positively influence the lives of all the student athletes in the program. His mantra in a nutshell? Win the day!
“Win the Day”
Mike Iuzzolino’s role is more than a coach. He has channeled his incredible work ethic, mental philosophy and approach to life in a way that provides lessons for all of us.
“The number one thing I see with young people today is a lack of patience. They want satisfaction right away. They don’t see the day-to-day grind of the journey.”
Iuzzolino has lived the grind. But he also wants the kids to understand what they are grinding for.
“A lot of youth sports is caught up in comparison. Who is getting what scholarship offer and other stuff on social media. If your goal in playing sports is to get a scholarship, you will be sad.”
It is the greater purpose that should be driving athletics. Do it for the love of the game. Do it for your teammates. Do it for your family. Whatever it is, finding a purpose allows you to power through the difficult moments along the way. In both sports and life. Purpose will feed your resilience.
To illustrate this point, Iuzzolino recalls a time playing in Italy when his grandfather had passed away. It obviously hit him hard. But he needed to stay focused in the middle of the playoffs.
“I decided to honor him by playing well. Difficult moments happen to everyone. We can’t use that as an excuse not to be our best. We have to work harder in difficult times.”
Amen, Mike.
And when it comes to practice, Coach Iuzzolino offers this nugget:
“Players can’t just turn it on in the game. It doesn’t work that way. You have to practice as hard as you play!”
Finally, Coach Iuzzolino sums up his philosophy in a very simple message for his players.
“You have to give your best every day. If you win the day, it will lead to good things.”
Winning the day takes sustained effort. Winning the day means practicing how you play. Winning the day does not allow for excuses. Winning the day leads to more playing time and growing confidence.
Winning the day will sustain you in your darkest moments.
Coach Mike Iuzzolino practices what he preaches. And that sustained effort has allowed him to win the day for most of his life.
Mike Iuzzolino Today
Mike Iuzzolino is still the assistant men’s basketball coach at Robert Morris University. Coaching is his passion. But so is his family.
He has now been married to Dana for eighteen years. Their son Michael is 17 years old and a basketball player and athlete in his own right. Their daughter Olivia is 13 years old and a ballet dancer. There is a healthy balance in the family. They have all been taught to win the day.
In April 2017, Iuzzolino’s Number 8 jersey was retired by Scaligera Verona in a beautiful ceremony in Verona, Italy. His entire family was in attendance. It was the icing on the cake for a remarkable professional career.
And as with any professional sports career, there is a certain modicum of fame that accompanies the position.
For Mike Izzoulino, his “fame” was being the featured player for the Dallas Mavericks on the popular video game, NBA JAM. Iuzzolino was recently travelling for a recruiting trip in the New Mexico Airport when a fan recognized him from the video game. Iuzzolino was surprised. but posed for pictures and got a huge laugh out of it. He never thought of himself as ”famous”.
“I’m just an Ordinary Joe, who had an extraordinary job.”
Way to keep it real, coach. And keep winning the day.
What Does It Mean for Us?
Mike Iuzzolino’s journey holds lessons for all of us. Life is rooted in resilience through hard work and sustained effort.
How many of exhibit sustained effort even in our down moments?
How many us still believe even when we are failing?
How many of us take ownership and refuse to blame others for our situation?
How many of take accountability for our success rather than relying on someone else to make it happen?
How many of us reach our maximum potential?
How many us strive to win the day?
The daily trials and tribulations of life can get the best of us. We all face challenges and dark moments. Life can be a grind. But we need to grind right back.
Stay positive. Stay resilient. Keep moving forward with sustained effort. Mike Iuzzolino has given us a road map.
We just have to win the day.