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Bo Ryan gets five more years at Wisconsin

Bo Ryan

Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan watches his team against Syracuse in the first half of an East Regional semifinal game in the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament, Thursday, March 22, 2012, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

AP

Bo Ryan’s entire college coaching career has taken place in the state of Wisconsin. He became a Badgers assistant in 1976, head coached at Wisconsin-Platteville for fifteen years, then hopscotched through Wisconsin-Milwaukee briefly before landing back in Madison in the head role.

Just in case there was any doubt Ryan will end his career in the Cheesehead state, UW extended the defense-minded coach five more years, locking him up through 2017. Ryan will be pushing seventy by that point, and continued success in Madison will likely lead to more extensions and even more job security.

Ryan won four DIII national titles, three Big Ten regular-season titles, and has never missed the NCAA tournament since taking over at Wisconsin in 2001. Very little is known about the terms of his rejiggered contract, and the Associated Press story about the extension is brief:

MADISON, Wis. -

Wisconsin has approved a five-year contract extension for Bo Ryan, who has taken the Badgers to the round of 16 the past two seasons.

The University of Wisconsin Athletic Board approved the deal Friday. Ryan’s contract will now run through 2017. Terms were not disclosed.

Wisconsin went 26-10 last season and was the nation’s best defensive team, allowing 53.2 points per game. The Badgers lost to Syracuse in the NCAA tournament.

Ryan will be entering his 12th season at Wisconsin this fall.


Ryan was in need of some good news this week. He endured a public outcry over his decision to limit transfer options for Jared Uthoff, shot his mouth off to make things worse, then abruptly changed course in the face of withering scorn. His job was never in jeopardy by any means, but a show of support from Wisconsin’s administration had to feel good.

Eric Angevine is the editor of Storming the Floor. He tweets @stfhoops.