Wisconsin basketball coach Bo Ryan dropped a bomb on the world of college basketball by abruptly announcing his retirement Tuesday during the post-game press conference.
Ryan was visibly emotional as he entered the post-game press conference after beating Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. He somberly told the media that he is retiring effective immediately, and noted that sometimes things don’t work out perfectly with timing.
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Ryan had toyed with the idea of retiring before the season began, but wouldn’t make the move unless his assistant coach Greg Gard was named the new head coach. It appears from Ryan’s comments in the press conference that his plan of having Gard succeed him has been successful, and Ryan has tied the Wisconsin athletic director’s hands. (RELATED: College Basketball Star Gives Passionate Plea Urging People To Stop Using The N-Word)
Reactions to the shocking news flooded in from all over the sports world.
This is tough to watch..Thank you Coach Ryan for molding me into a young man. Wish I could argue with you one more time. All love to Pops!! — Sam Dekker (@dekker) December 16, 2015
What a tremendous run by Wisconsin under Bo Ryan. All the proof you need #Badgers pic.twitter.com/BNY5GG1Ysi
— Benjamin Worgull (@TheBadgerNation) December 16, 2015
Bo Ryan is the Sinatra of CBB. He did it his way! He planned each charted course each careful step along the byway. The game will miss him. — Seth Greenberg (@SethOnHoops) December 16, 2015
Bo Ryan was simply the GOAT to ever coach @ WISCONSIN! Thanks 4 all the special moments in Badger country.
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) December 16, 2015
Came home to the shocking but unsurprising news that Bo Ryan is retiring at the end of the semester. Don’t think we’ll see another like him. — Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) December 16, 2015
Not surprised at all about Bo Ryan’s retirement…congrats to him. What he did at Wisconsin is the best job ever done at a Big 10 School
— Dan Dakich (@dandakich) December 16, 2015
Ryan retires as the winningest coach in Wisconsin history with a career record of 364–130 at Wisconsin, two Final Fours, 14 consecutive trips to the March Madness tournament, and seven Big Ten championships. The former Wisconsin coach also holds the record for highest winning percentage for a coach in the history of the Big Ten.