After losing in the National Championship game to Duke, Bo Ryan considered retiring, weighing it against coaching one last season and ultimately choosing the latter.
Ryan, head men's basketball coach at Wisconsin, released a statement Monday through the school's athletic department announcing the upcoming season would be his last.
"Back in the spring, in the days after the national championship game, [Wisconsin Athletic Director] Barry Alvarez and I discussed the possibility of me retiring," he said. "I've always been told that is not a decision to make right after a season is completed. Barry thankfully encouraged me to take some time to think about it and I have done that. I considered retiring this summer or coaching one more season."
Ryan, 67, led Wisconsin to a Big Ten Tournament Championship before the Badgers made it to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament. There they ended Kentucky's historic undefeated streak to take on Duke in the title game.
Even with the departures of Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker, Ryan's squad is poised to make another postseason run. As ESPN noted, Ryan has coached the Badgers for 14 years, taking the job at age 54. During that time, Wisconsin has rose to one of the prominent teams not only in the Big Ten, but in college basketball.
His departure seems to resemble that of Jim Boeheim, albeit more condensed. Boeheim intends to retire as Syracuse's head men's basketball coach in three years, but both he and Ryan are taking a calculated exit and would like to name long-time assistants as their successor.
"I've decided to coach one more season with the hope that my longtime assistant Greg Gard eventually becomes the head coach at Wisconsin," Ryan said in the statement. "I am looking forward to another year with our program, including our players, my terrific assistant coaches, our office staff and everyone who supports Wisconsin basketball here in Madison, around the state and across the country."
— Frank Kaminsky III (@FSKPart3) June 30, 2015
Huge congrats to Bo Ryan on a great career with the best yet ahead. Incredible coach & even better man. All the best to you Bo! #OnWisconsin — Bret Bielema (@BretBielema) June 29, 2015
