After two Final Four appearances back to back, including losing in one national championship game, Bo Ryan is staying at Wisconsin for one more season to coach the Badgers, although it’s probably going to be his goodbye from Madison and College Basketball in general.
A lot of rumors have been circulating regarding Ryan’s health and upcoming announcement. Most would be betting he’d call it quits. The 67-year old coach has been coaching the Badgers since 2001, and has been a head coach, all with different Wisconsin schools, since 1984. He was actually an assistant for the Badgers from 1976 to 1984, until he landed the job of HC at Wisconsin–Platteville.
Peaking with his most recent group of guys, including Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker, both first round draft selections last week, might have meant the end for Ryan. It’s hard starting something new, knowing you might not be there to finish what you started. It’s also hard picking yourself up after two painful losses in the Final Four in 12 months, including to Duke in the final of the NCAA Tournament a couple of months ago.
But Ryan took his time to make up his mind. He spoke to Athletic Director Barry Alvarez, and probably talked to other people. He ended up deciding to stick around and give himself a farewell tour, a very well deserved one, around the Big Ten.
In 14 seasons of coaching Wisconsin, Ryan has led them to the NCAA Tournament every year. This includes winning the conference four times, the conference tournament three times and making the Final Four, finally, twice, in 2014 and 2015.