Schultz: Ryan turns 60, but has no plans to slow down or retire
There was no practice for the University of Wisconsin men's basketball team Wednesday but that didn't mean it was a day off for Bo Ryan.
His morning activities included a conference call with some of his National Association of Basketball Coaches brethren to discuss some key issues regarding their sport. He followed that up with an interview with a reporter.
You could bet your mortgage that, sometime during the morning, Ryan also spent some time looking at DVDs of some of his team's past games as the Badgers (8-2) prepare for Saturday night's date with Valparaiso (10-1) at the Kohl Center. And he most assuredly fit in a workout, too.
Ryan knows a thing or two about routines and how it's important to make sure nothing gets in the way of changing them. That's why he didn't have much to say about celebrating his 60th birthday today.
"You know what? I don't notice any change. Because it comes when I'm in season and it's always in the holiday season, I don't get that much time to reflect on it," said the fit and healthy Ryan. "In my mind 60 today is 40 back during my mom's and dad's generation."
What will be changing for Ryan is very positive. He and wife, Kelly, who celebrated her birthday Wednesday, learned that they will soon have their first two grandchildren to dote on.
Their oldest daughter, Megan, and her husband Matt, are expecting their first child. Their son, Will, announced that his wife, Emily, is expecting their first child, too. Will is an assistant coach at North Dakota State.
It won't take long for the Ryan grandkids to become well-versed on the swing offense and how to protect the rim. They also can expect Ryan to be there to answer any questions they may have about anything else that comes to mind.
It's all part of Ryan's giving-back policy he adheres to and what helps drive him in his third decade of coaching. It's why he's part of the NABC board of directors and has sat on key panels for the NCAA. It's why he's so instrumental in helping basketball grow at the grass roots, high school and college levels throughout Wisconsin.
It's also a major reason why he said he never thinks of retiring. "Why should retirement come up in a conversation? It doesn't make any sense to me," he said.
"The most important thing is that the players know that what you're doing is in their best interests and your attention to detail and what you're trying to get them to do is consistent," Ryan continued.
It's all about making sure his players get what they need to succeed as student-athletes at Wisconsin. Ryan's record at Wisconsin (150-57) shows he has done that as well as any coach in the Big Ten Conference since he arrived in Madison in 2001. He also knows his system has stood, and should continue to stand, the test of time
"Change is inevitable," said Ryan, who has a 533-160 overall record at the collegiate level. "You just have to make sure that as things are evolving that you're still sticking to your principles and make it the best experience these young men can have."
Ryan is facing one of his toughest challenges at Wisconsin this season following its best in terms of overall wins (30), Big Ten wins (13) and attaining the No. 1 ranking for the first time in school history. The Badgers remain a work in progress with two nonconference games to play before the 18-game Big Ten Conference season begins on Jan. 2 at Michigan.
But Ryan loves a challenge and, if he follows his routine, will use these two weeks leading into the conference season to do some of his best teaching. "I'm having as much fun as I did coaching junior high school and high school," said Ryan. "That hasn't changed for me at all."
Although he was a three-sport athlete in high school, played basketball at Wilkes College and spent much of his free time as a youth and young adult playing basketball on Philadelphia-area playgrounds, Ryan has avoided major injury. He said he has never had any surgeries on his knees or other parts of his body due to athletic wear-and-tear.
Ryan quit playing basketball in the mid-1990s and also gave up his long runs outdoors. "All my friends were tearing Achilles or getting ACLs and having hip and knee replacements," he said. "So I got into some other things with racquetball and treadmills."
So as Ryan celebrates his birthday today, he will laugh at the many cards and messages that his friends have sent to him. And, if anybody asks, he'll laugh at the subject of retirement, too.
"I haven't thought about it," said the Philly-born Ryan, who immediately launched into story-telling mode.
"The only reason it would come up is because of a lot of the guys I went to school with -- especially those that were in education for 30, 35 years and are traveling and doing different things -- they all told me I have to keep my job because they go to games and they follow our team," Ryan continued.
"It's amazing how many new Wisconsin fans have come on board with all the things our players have done recently. A lot of people I went to school with in high school and college are wearing red and white now."
rschultz@madison.com
Fiel photo
Bo Ryan turns 60 today, and says he has no plans for retiring anytime soon.
