The UW Board of Regents approved a new head coaching contract on Monday and Greg Gard was named the 16th head men’s basketball coach in the school’s history.
A Wisconsin assistant since 2001, the 45-year-old Gard took over as the Badgers’ interim head coach following the retirement of longtime head coach Bo Ryan on December 15.
Gard started 1-4, having to install the Swing Offense and get the young Badgers ready for the long haul. He did a masterful job as the Badgers have won 11 of their last 13 games and finished in the top four in the Big Ten for a Big Ten record 16th straight year.
A 77-76 victory over fourth-ranked Michigan State at the Kohl Center on January 17 was the start of a seven game winning streak that also included a home court win over eventual Big Ten Champion Indiana and a road win over then, No. two ranked Maryland. The Badgers would later add a road win over No. 8 Iowa in late February.
The Badgers finished the regular season with a 12-6 Big Ten record, losing just twice over the final seven weeks of the season. [Read more…]