re: Bo ryan emotional retire effective immediately

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Well thats just fricking stupid and there is no way that is true.

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Bo Ryan has not been shy about his desire for Greg Gard to take over the program. Gard has also had ringing endorsements from former players and coaches, including Saul Phillips and Tom Izzo. Izzo went public with his admiration for Greg Gard, calling him one of the best assistants in the country and a guy with a relentless drive.

Knowing the respect and support he has from those within the basketball community, and the hesitation on the side of Barry Alvarez to hand the job off in-house without doing a nationwide search, I would not doubt if this is indeed true. Ryan wants Gard to get the job and auditioning for it this season, albeit with a down Wisconsin team, likely gives him a better opportunity.

That being said, there are rumors that this "sudden" retirement is not so "sudden" for those close to Ryan, and it was not basketball-related.

ETA: it also needs to be said that Greg Gard has been, for the better part of a few years, another extension of a "head coach" for the Wisconsin program. Ryan has given him more-and-more responsibility, and he has been the guy that has been given on-floor coaching duties, recruiting coordinator, opponent scouting, and game preparation.

"We almost have two head coaches in coach Ryan and coach Gard," Gasser says. "He's got that head coach mentality, that moxie about him. And that’s perfect to have."