All About the Michigan Coach’s Daughter Raquel and Son Steven

Coach isn’t Tom Izzo’s only title — he’s also “dad” to daughter Raquel “Rocky” Izzo McDonald and son Steven Izzo.

The head coach of Michigan State University’s men’s basketball team shares his kids with his wife, Lupe Marinez Izzo. Like Tom, both Rocky and Steven have gone on to be a part of Spartan Nation — she graduated from and worked for the school, and he was one of his father’s basketball players.

When Tom was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016, he called his family his “foundation.”

“Tonight, other than the birth of my children, is the proudest and greatest achievement of my life,” the proud dad said in his speech.

Tom spoke affectionately about both of his kids in his remarks, telling Rocky that he’s “never met someone with as big a heart as” her. The coach added that he cherishes all of his “father-son moments” with Steven and appreciates how he “deals with having a father as a public figure.”

During an appearance on the Locked On Spartans podcast in 2024, Steven pointed out that having Tom as a father is like “having a normal dad.” He said, “I don’t know any different and I think people don’t understand that.”

Here is everything to know about Tom Izzo’s kids, Raquel “Rocky” and Steven.

Raquel “Rocky” Izzo McDonald, 30

Tom and Lupe welcomed their daughter Raquel “Rocky” Izzo McDonald in August 1994.

“Raquel, we waited a long time for you and yet it was worth every minute,” Tom said at his Hall of Fame enshrinement in 2016. “I’ve never met someone with as big a heart as you. Not only did I put you in a tough spot as you went through high school as the coach’s daughter, but then you chose to come to Michigan State as a student.”

Rocky graduated from the university in 2017 and thanked her parents, who she called the “two most influential people” in her life.

“Mom and Dad without you none of this would be possible. I can’t thank you enough for always believing in me and pushing me to be my best,” she penned on Instagram. “I know that you guys will always have my back and I couldn’t thank you enough. I love you guys so much!”

Rocky started working for the Spartan Fund after graduation but left that role in late 2018 to start the Izzo Legacy Family Fund with her mom the following year.

After three years of dating, Rocky got engaged to Matthew McDonald in 2019 at Walt Disney World. The couple married on July 25, 2020, and held their wedding celebration on July 9, 2022, at MSU’s Breslin Student Events Center, where the basketball team plays.

Rocky and Matthew’s first child, daughter Isabelle Frances-Izzo McDonald, was born on July 22, 2023, and Tom has already been dubbed the “best dad and grandpa” by his daughter.

The mom of one also had kind words for her dad on his birthday in 2020. In a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, she penned, “To me you are Dad, Daddy, the first man to ever love me, motivator, someone to always have my back, kind, family oriented, would do anything for anyone, hard worker.”

Rocky went on to write that the “biggest thing” her dad tells his team and family is that he wants “to help them live [their] dream because so many people helped you live yours.”

Steven Mateen Izzo, 24

Tom and Lupe welcomed their son Steven Mateen Izzo via adoption four days after he was born on June 16, 2000.

“I’ve often thought to myself, man, this kid really hit the lottery of life, you know? The things he’s gotten to do. All his needs taken care of, all that stuff,” Tom told The Athletic in 2024. “But, damn, it hasn’t been easy for him.”

Steven’s middle name “Mateen” is a tribute to Mateen Cleaves, who is his “sports hero” and a former Michigan State basketball player.

Tom described his son as a “compassionate kid” and a “straight shooter” in his 2016 Hall of Fame enshrinement speech.

“Steven keeps me humble, as he might choose someone else in the NCAA tournament bracket once in a while, but I know he has my back when I hear him yelling at a referee from behind the bench,” he coach said in his remarks. “Steven in the same way, I’ll have your back as you go through life, so thank you.”

Steven graduated from Lansing Catholic High School in May 2019 and followed in his older sister’s footsteps by going to MSU for college. Steven joined his father’s team as a walk-on in 2019 and shared during media day that playing for his dad was always a dream of his.

“When I talked to him, he said that he would gladly take me in and help me out with that if I did my job in school and on the basketball court,” Steven recalled of pitching his dad on the idea two years prior, per MLive.com. “If I just did everything that I needed to, worked hard, then I would have a spot. I did so it all worked out.”

At the time, the college athlete pointed out that when he’s on the court, Tom is “not dad” and he’s “just a regular player.”

Steven expressed his thanks to his dad in an emotional Senior Night interview with Big Ten Network in 2024. “I’m just so thankful that he allowed me to walk-on five years ago,” the coach’s son said.

He added, “It’s been the greatest decision that I’ve ever made. No matter how hard the lifts are, or how long meetings go, it’s all worth it at the end of the day. And I’m just so grateful that I was able to do it with you.”

Tom admitted in the same interview that “there’s nothing better” as a coach than to have your child with you. He said, “We’ve all sacrificed a lot … but getting some of that back, that means the world to me.”