Michigan State deputy AD Greg Ianni to retire in January after 26 years

EAST LANSING — Greg Ianni announced Tuesday that he will retire in January after 26 years working in Michigan State’s athletic department.

Ianni, who has been deputy athletic director since 2010, has been one of the chief architects of the overhaul of the Spartans’ athletic facilities since his arrival in 1993.

“He's been instrumental in building so many of the different things in this building that we're sitting in right now, Skandalaris building, the practice facilities, all of the things that have gone on,” MSU football coach Mark Dantonio said Tuesday at the Spartan Stadium North End Zone complex. “We want to congratulate him and wish him the very best. He's been here since I've been back as the head coach and was here prior to that, so a longstanding member of the Spartans community.”

Ianni is the third significant member of the MSU athletic department to retire in the past year. Former athletic director Mark Hollis stepped down in January, hours before an ESPN report into sexual assault allegations against the Spartans’ football and basketball programs. Shelley Applebaum, who oversaw women’s sports at MSU, resigned in July as executive associate athletic director.

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Ianni ran the athletic department’s day-to-day operations while Hollis was on the road with NCAA committees and other responsibilities. The 64-year-old Ianni also has been in charge of athletic facilities and improvements, event management for all sports and as the sport administrator for daily operations of football and men’s basketball.

“The past 26 years have been an amazing ride of challenges, victories, defeats and memorable experiences,” Ianni said in a release. “But above everything else, what I will remember most are the incredible people I have been blessed to work with. I’ve been planning this retirement for a couple years now, and the time is right for me and my family to look forward to the next adventure in our lives.”

A 1975 MSU alum, Ianni played baseball at MSU from 1972-73, and his two children – Allison (volleyball) and Anthony (men’s basketball) – also were Spartan athletes. His wife, Jamie, is a long-time volleyball coach at Okemos High. They have five grandchildren.

“Proud of my Dad! He & his team put MSU athletics on the map w/among College Athletics Elite when it comes to facilities & Management,” tweeted Anthony Ianni, who is an autism awareness activist and motivational speaker. “He’s best in the business & there won’t be anyone to top what he’s done in his career at MSU. I know my kids are excited for his retirement.”

Along with the significant upgrades at Spartan Stadium, Ianni also was pivotal in designing and building projects including the Clara Bell Smith Center for student-athletes in the late 1990s; the Berkowitz Basketball Complex and the Old College Field project with new stadiums for baseball (McLane Stadium), softball (Secchia Stadium) and soccer (DeMartin Stadium) throughout the 2000s and the Lasch Golf Center and Gilbert Pavilion/Izzo Hall of History in the past decade.

“He’s provided outstanding leadership for the department, and has played an instrumental role in the construction and renovation of our first-class athletic facilities,” new MSU athletic director Bill Beekman said in a release.

Ianni also was part of the upgrades at Munn Ice Arena over the past decade and will continue to help with its $14 million to $16 million expansion that is in the planning phase. He will work as an advisor for Beekman until June 30, when his contract expires.

“He’s been really instrumental – we’re doing the Munn renovation, and he’s right in the middle of that,” MSU hockey coach Danton Cole said. “I’m glad he’s going to stick around advising-wise for a while to help us out. He’s been a great Spartan, and he’s been a great help to myself and my family.”

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari. Download our Spartans Xtra app for free on Apple and Android devices!