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Bo Ryan has given far more to basketball in this state than his famed swing offense, and next month the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association will honor his contributions by adding the University of Wisconsin men's basketball coach to the WBCA Hall of Fame.
Ryan, who gained fame in putting UW-Platteville on the NCAA Division III map before rising up the Division I ranks, will join a distinguished group of former area coaches, players and "Friends of Basketball" in being honored Oct. 8 during a banquet at the Madison Marriott West.
The Chester, Pa., native came to UW on March 17, 1976, when he joined Bill Cofield's staff.
Ryan left in 1984 for UW-Platteville, where he went 352-76 and coached the Pioneers to NCAA Division III titles in 1991, '95, '98 and '99 before leaving for his first Division I coaching job at UW-Milwaukee.
After a two-year stay with the Panthers, Ryan came to Madison in 2001 and has enjoyed a remarkable run. Under Ryan (272-118), the Badgers have won three Big Ten Conference championships and made the NCAA tournament in each of his 10 seasons at the helm.
Others with area ties to be honored with Ryan are UW-Milwaukee women's coach Sandy Botham, a former Madison West athlete; former Beloit Memorial boys player Johnny Watts; former Adams-Friendship boys coach Steve Klaas; former Monroe boys and girls coach Kevin Keen; former Cuba City assistant coach Stanley Fraundorf; and "Friend of Basketball" John Patterson of Bloomington, the longtime statistician for River Ridge High School.
Longtime Badger booster Albert "Ab" Nicholas of Milwaukee also will be honored as a "Friend of Basketball."
Former UW-Stevens Point men's basketball coach and current Clinton Middle School principal Bob Parker will join Ryan as the college coaches being honored.
