Ryan coaches his final game

Gard, class of 1995, to lead the Badgers

PLATTEVILLE, Wis – In what has become a storied coaching career, the former University of Wisconsin-Platteville men’s basketball coach and most recent coach of the Wisconsin Badgers, William “Bo” Ryan, announced his retirement Dec. 15. The news came following the Badgers’ 64-49 victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. “This is so emotional right now. I am trying to hold this together,” said Ryan during Tuesday’s press conference.

Ryan coached UW-Platteville for 15 years. From 1984-99 he tallied a 353-76 record, good enough for an 82.2 winning percentage, the best in the history of NCAA Division III basketball.

The Pioneers, under Ryan’s guidance, won eight conference championships and made nine straight NCAA Division III playoff appearances. They won national titles in 1991, 1995, 1998 and 1999. The 1992 team placed third. In total, the Pioneers were 30-5 in NCAA tournament play.

UW-Platteville was the winningest team in all of college basketball during the 1990s, with a 266-26 record (90.9 percent). He was named national coach of the year four times and WIAC coach of the year on six occasions.

“Congratulations to Coach Ryan for embarking on the next ‘game’ in his life,” said Jeff Gard, current coach of the UW-Platteville Pioneers. “Thank you for everything you have done not only for the sport of basketball, but also for the state of Wisconsin and most importantly Southwest Wisconsin, the city of Platteville and UW-Platteville. Your legacy will never be forgotten.”

After coaching at UW-Milwaukee for two seasons, Ryan became the head coach at the University of Wisconsin. During his tenure at Wisconsin, Ryan totaled 364 wins and 130 losses.

With Ryan retiring, long-time associate head coach and 1995 UW-Platteville graduate Greg Gard was named interim head coach. Greg served as an assistant for Ryan while at UW-Platteville.

“I’d like to thank Coach Ryan for an unbelievable opportunity,” said Greg during Tuesday’s press conference. “I remember being pulled into his office 23 years ago as a 22-year-old college student and he made it real clear and simple; ‘Greg, that’s enough of that high school stuff. You need to be with me all the time.’”

“Twenty-three years later I would have never dreamed that we would have had the ride that we had; Platteville with three national championships, rebuilding a Milwaukee program, and then coming to your own home state institution, the flagship school in your own state and to be able to continue to build this program to where it is, the tradition and the pride that is involved with this program, for the opportunities that he has given me along the way I’ll forever be grateful for that,” said Greg.

“To my brother, congratulations Greg, on a most deserved opportunity,” said Jeff. “The loyalty that you showed to Coach Ryan and the programs you have been associated with all started back home in Cobb, Wis., with mom and dad. Know that we are all proud of you as you go into this next chapter in your career.”

“His record as an assistant coach, I told the team that there are people who have received head coaching jobs who were assistants at places without anywhere near the record that he has,” said Ryan. “Not even close.”

Greg’s first game as interim head coach of the Badgers will be Wednesday, Dec. 23 versus UW-Green Bay at 8 p.m. at the Kohl Center.

UW-Platteville now has three alumni coaching men’s basketball at the NCAA Division I level. Rob Jeter is the head coach at UW-Milwaukee, Saul Phillips is leading Ohio University and now Greg at Wisconsin. Jeter graduated from UW-Platteville in 1991 and Phillips graduated in 1996.

Earlier this year Ryan was selected as UW-Platteville’s Distinguished Lecturer to coincide with the university’s sesquicentennial. His presentation will be held Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at 9:30 a.m. on Bo Ryan Court in the Williams Fieldhouse. The event will be open to the campus community as well as to the public. Classes will be canceled for the presentation.

Written by: Dan Wackershauser, Communications Specialist, University Information and Communications, 608-342-1194, wackersd@uwplatt.edu