Bo Ryan announces he will retire at the end of Wisconsin’s semester

Wisconsin Badgers head coach Bo Ryan celebrates by cutting the net after overtime in the finals of the west regional of the 2014 NCAA Mens Basketball Championship tournament against the Arizona Wildcats at Honda Center. Alvarez, now boxed in, had no choice but to name Gard as interim replacement. Gard has been with him much of the way, joining Ryan’s Wisconsin-Platteville staff in 1993 and following Ryan at each of his stops.

When you look at college basketball, or college athletics in general, there are so many dark, murky undertones to everything that sometimes it’s hard to see the good in it.

Richter watched all of this, aware of Soderberg’s contribution to elevating the Badgers from sub-.500 under Stan Van Gundy in 1994-95 to the Final Four just five years later, and decided he preferred to hire either Rick Majerus or, failing that, Bo Ryan.

There was news earlier this year, following Wisconsin’s second straight run to the Final Four, that this would be Ryan’s final season as the head basketball coach, though Ryan followed that news during the summer with hints that that was not set in stone, leaving his future a question mark.

Ryan has coached Wisconsin since the 2001-02 season, following 15 years at Wisconsin-Platteville and two at UW-Milwaukee.

For now, Wisconsin fans, Big Ten fans and college basketball fans are thinking about the past 14 seasons.

He finished 364-130 at Wisconsin, the winningest coach in school history and best winning percentage in conference history.

Ryan, whose decision is effective immediately, will be replaced on an interim basis by associate head coach Greg Gard, the school said. They won seven Big Ten titles. I’m sure they’re out there, but you’d be hardpressed to find somebody with anything more than a small gripe against Ryan. “And I don’t know how many coaches ever have the opportunity to have an AD and an administration that understand and respects that”.

Tuesday’s loss broke a six-game winning streak for the Islanders (7-3) as the Badgers (7-5) jumped out to a 27-19 lead at halftime. Wisconsin went 9-7 in Big Ten play and reached the NCAA Tournament as a No. 6 seed but dropped a 50-49 decision to Lefty Driesell and Georgia State. He has worked with Ryan for 20 seasons, including 14-plus years in Madison. He tended to have a relatively quiet sideline demeanor during games, but wasn’t shy to express his displeasure with calls. Off the court, he could be a charmer and command a room with his stories. “I discussed this with Barry, and I appreciate him giving me the space to make this decision”.

Be Civil – It’s OK to have a difference in opinion but there’s no need to be a jerk.