Bo Ryan: Another Hill To Climb by Bo Ryan, Mike Lucas (With)

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Synopsis

Bo knows hoops. As a member of the exclusive 500-win club, University of Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan has the second highest winning percentage among active coaches (with at least 500 victories) in college basketball, second only to North Carolina's Roy Williams. Ryan's formula for success can be traced back to UW-Platteville, where he won four national championships during a memorable 15-year run punctuated by two undefeated seasons. But there was still another hill to climb for Ryan, the all-time winningest coach in Division III history. After a short layover at UW-Milwaukee, where he coached the Panthers to their first back-to-back winning seasons in eight years, Ryan welcomed the challenge of proving himself all over again at the Big Ten level. And it didn't take long for Ryan to make his mark with the University of Wisconsin basketball program. In his first season, he guided the Badgers to their first share of the conference title in 55 years. Since then, Ryan has raised the bar to unprecedented heights, leading the Badgers to the four winningest seasons in school history. Ryan's first six teams averaged 23.7 wins per season, capped by the program's first ever No. 1 national ranking and a school record 30 victories in 2006-07, which was quickly erased by the 2007-08 team that finished 31-5. Ryan's competitive fire, attention to detail and commitment to executing the fundamentals has been at the core of his success, along with his signature Swing offense. And it all serves as a valuable road map for young coaches. In his autobiography-Another Hill To Climb-Ryan talks about the many people who have influenced his journey, beginning with his formative years in Chester, PA., wherethe "street-smart" Ryan nurtured his point guard mentality. Known as a fascinating storyteller, Ryan also talks about the hurdles and the highlights that accompanied each step, and the importance of developing a plan that will transcend any level of competition.

Biography

Mike Lucas, sports columnist for the Madison Capital Times, also doubles as the color analyst for Badger football and basketball games on the UW radio network. Lucas, a Beloit native, enrolled at Wisconsin in 1968, and wrote for the Badger Herald and Daily Cardinal before joining the Capital Times as a full-time writer in 1971. Lucas is entering his 14th season on the radio network. This is the third book Lucas has penned for KCI Sports following up the well-received 25 Greatest Moments in Camp Randall Stadium and best-seller Don't Flinch, the autobiography of former UW football coach and current athletic director Barry Alvarez.