On Wednesday afternoon, new Wisconsin men’s basketball interim head coach Greg Gard spoke to the media in his first official appearance as the head of the program after Bo Ryan retired on Tuesday night.
In a thankful and appreciative press conference, Gard spoke to great lengths about his affiliation with Wisconsin state basketball, and especially about the people that are so important. “As you know my history, I go back all the way in this state of Wisconsin, and how important the people in this state [are],” Gard explained to the media. “I can’t be more thankful for this opportunity in terms of where people that have helped me along the way have helped position me to be in this particular position, this day.”
He also made sure to speak about Bo Ryan’s impact on state basketball. Everyone knows the years and years Ryan coached in this state, but Gard was extremely complimentary of Ryan as you would expect: “My understanding and appreciation of this state, this program, this university, and obviously Coach Ryan for what he’s done, not only for me personally, but for the game and all the people that have been around him.”
Gard spoke indirectly of how far he’s come, evidently with the help of Ryan. The interim coach gave a brief oral history of how he was even added to Ryan’s coaching staff at UW-Platteville: “Starting back 23 years ago, when he [Ryan] pulled me into his office as a young 22-year old trying to figure his way through college, just cut off the baseball team, college student, trying – ‘what the heck am I going to do with my life and what do I want to be when I grow up,’ and I had coached a few years in junior high and high school at the time at a local high school. And he said, ‘Hey, I’d like to have you join me as one of my assistants.'”
Echoing Ryan, Gard also talked a lot throughout the press conference about this team being a players’ team. Gard expressed that throughout his time coaching that “This will always be about and always has been with me, regardless of where I’ve coached, about the players first, and those are the heartbeat of our program.” The coaching staff has been focusing on the players, checking in with them often. Gard has told them that his door is always open and that they can call him at any time.
In terms of the coaching staff, Gard doesn’t think they will hire someone new since most people have jobs. The coaching staff may be one assistant short, but assistant coach Lamont Paris assured the media, “All of us – we’ll do more.” Paris said he will take a more active role in recruiting with Gard taking a step back. Both Paris and Gard claimed that the program will become “much more aggressive” with two scholarships available for 2016 and several prospects for 2017 on the radar.
There’s no doubt that Gard is ready for this challenge to prove himself as the interim head coach. He knows it’s going to be a challenge, but he said multiple times, “I get more excited by the minute.”
Gard’s first game as interim head coach will be a week from today against UW-Green Bay.