Wisconsin Badgers Legend Named Finalist for Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame

Last May, I penned an article that nobody of influence actually read, imploring the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame to address the injustice of omitting Wisconsin Badgers head coach Bo Ryan.

They are now one step closer to righting this egregious wrong.

On Friday, it was announced that William Francis (Bo) Ryan has been selected as one of the 14 finalists for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2024. His credentials will now undergo review by the Hall of Fame’s Honors Committee.

Congrats to our guy, Coach Ryan!

1 of 14 Finalists for the @Hoophall

📰: https://t.co/LBQCeRAbfq pic.twitter.com/BTeh7qUocY

— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) February 16, 2024

The Honors Committee includes 24 voting members, consisting of Hall of Famers, basketball executives, administrators, members of the media, and other experts. Coach Ryan must attain at least 18 votes from the committee to be enshrined into the Hall of Fame.

The Class of 2024 will be unveiled in a nationally televised broadcast during the NCAA Final Four in Phoenix, Arizona, on Saturday, April 6.

Examining Bo Ryan’s Accomplishments with the Wisconsin Badgers

Mar 15, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Bo Ryan waves to the crowd after cutting down the net after the championship game of the Big Ten Tournament against the Michigan State Spartans at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Bo Ryan began his college coaching career in 1984 at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

In 15 seasons at UW-Platteville, Coach Ryan won four NCAA Division III national championships with the Pioneers (1991, 1995, 1998, 1999) and amassed a remarkable overall record of 353-76. 

Before coming to Wisconsin, Ryan coached for two seasons at UW-Milwaukee. There, he led the UWM Panthers to their first back-to-back winning seasons in eight years.

In 2001, former Wisconsin Badgers Athletic Director Pat Richter hired Coach Ryan to lead the men’s basketball program, and the rest is history.

Bo Ryan went on to become the winningest coach in the Wisconsin basketball program’s history, with a record of 364-130 (.737), bringing seven Big Ten conference titles back to Madison. 

He guided the Badgers to 14 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, including seven Sweet 16s, three Elite Eights, back-to-back Final Fours, and the 2015 national championship game, where they finished runner-up.

The Chester, Pennsylvania native also won four Big Ten Coach of the Year awards (2002, 2003, 2013, 2015) and one Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year Award in 2008. 

Of note, Bo Ryan is the only coach in conference history to never finish lower than fourth in the Big Ten standings. The former Wisconsin Badgers coach also holds the best winning percentage in conference history. 

Closing Thoughts on Bo Ryan 

Dec 15, 2015; Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Bo Ryan announces his retirement as head coach effective immediately during the post-game news conference at the Kohl Center. Wisconsin defeated Texas A&M CC Islander 64-49. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports

Former Wisconsin Badgers head coach Bo Ryan is already a member of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. But a storied career like his deserves to live on in basketball immortality. 

He boasts four national championships at the Division III level, though they may not receive the recognition they deserve. Regardless, it’s clear that if Wisconsin basketball had defeated Duke in the 2015 national title game, there wouldn’t even be a debate about his Hall of Fame candidacy.

It’s absurd to let one game overshadow the legendary career of a coach. So, what exactly are we discussing here? It’s a travesty that such an accomplished coach has not yet been inducted into the Hall of Fame, and we hope the committee rectifies this oversight soon.

“Be really good every day at all the things that don’t take talent,” – Bo Ryan. 

Bo Ryan is Hall of Fame in my book.

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