After 14 years steering the Wisconsin basketball program, Bo Ryan will retire following the 2015-16 season. The 67-year-old is fresh off leading the Badgers to their first national championship game berth in April.
In a statement, Ryan declared that it is his wish for longtime assistant coach Greg Gard to succeed him.
“I’ve decided to coach one more season with the hope that my longtime assistant Greg Gard eventually becomes the head coach at Wisconsin,” Ryan said. “I am looking forward to another year with our program, including our players, my terrific assistant coaches, our office staff and everyone who supports Wisconsin basketball here in Madison, around the state and across the country.”
Ryan has been a revolutionary figure in Wisconsin athletics. Since leaving Wisconsin-Platteville, a Division III program and joining the Badgers, Ryan has taken Wisconsin to 14 NCAA Tournaments, seven Sweet 16s, four Big Ten titles and two Final Fours. He’s gone 357-125 (.741) and changed the culture of a team which won just 54 percent of its games in the 14 years before he took over.
After the national championship game, Ryan nearly called it a career. However, some cajoling from Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez kept him around for a 15th season.
“Back in the spring, in the days after the national championship game, Barry Alvarez and I discussed the possibility of me retiring,” Ryan said in the statement. “I’ve always been told that is not a decision to make right after a season is completed. Barry thankfully encouraged me to take some time to think about it and I have done that. I considered retiring this summer or coaching one more season.”
Ryan’s decision came as a shock to some his current and former players. Recent Houston Rockets draft pick Sam Dekker voiced his surprise at Ryan’s retirement.
“It was kind of shocking to me,” Dekker said. “I knew it was coming at some point but I didn’t know it would be this soon. It’s shocking. If it’s the best decision for him and if it will make him happy, then so be it. It’s going to be different seeing a different coach on the sideline, that’s for sure.”
