head coach for Heathcote's final five seasons. Retirement After retiring from coaching, Heathcote returned to Spokane, where he lived until his death. He played handball until well into his seventies, and continued to play recreational golf. While Heathcote continued to follow Michigan State during the college season, his primary basketball interest in his final years was the local Gonzaga University; he attended all Bulldogs home games, and had a monthly lunch with head coach Mark Few. On August 28, 2017, Heathcote died at the age of 90. "Michigan State has lost one of its icons today," current MSU basketball coach Tom Izzo said in a statement. "And yet, nothing can erase his impact on the program, the players he coached and the coaches he mentored. Spartan basketball is what it is today because of Jud Heathcote." Head coaching record College *Due to forfeits related to NCAA sanctions to Minnesota for improper selling of tickets, MSU's official record for the 1976–77 season is 12–15, 9–9 though they finished the season 10–17, 7–11.^Due to NCAA sanctions against Wisconsin for providing improper benefits for players, MSU's official record for the 1981–82 season is 12–16, 7–11 though they finished the season 11–17, 6–12. The official record for the 1983–84 seasonal is 16–12, 9–9 though they finished the season 15–13, 8–10 See also Heathcote (surname) List of NCAA Division I Men's Final Four appearances by coach References Autobiography: 1927 births 2017 deaths American men's basketball players Basketball coaches from North Dakota Basketball players from North Dakota College men's basketball head coaches in the United States High school basketball coaches in Washington (state) Michigan State Spartans men's basketball coaches Montana Grizzlies basketball coaches National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame inductees People from Kitsap County, Washington People from Wells County, North Dakota Washington State Cougars men's basketball coaches Washington State Cougars men's basketball players United States Navy personnel of World War II United States Navy officers