Questions mount over Ryan’s snub
Despite résumé he’s not Basketball Hall finalist
MADISON – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame recently announced the finalists for the 2023 class.
The group of 12 finalists included three men’s coaches selected by the “North American Committee.”
The three coaches:
Gene Keady, who coached 25 seasons at Purdue and 35 seasons overall; David Hixon, who coached Division III Amherst for 42 seasons; and Gene Bess, the head coach at Three Rivers Community College in Missouri for 50 seasons.
Former Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan was not among the finalists and with each passing season it appears his chances of being inducted into the Hall of Fame might be diminishing.
“We don’t know who they are,” Greg Gard, who worked under Ryan for more than two decades before taking over the UW program after Ryan’s retirement in 2015, said of the Naismith voters. “It’s not very transparent.
“We’ve tried to lobby for him, but we don’t know where to go, who to call or what to do in that regard. I don’t know.”
Comparing Bo Ryan's résumé to Hall of Fame coaches is telling
Does Ryan, 75, deserve to be in the Hall of Fame? We’ll share some résumés and let you make the call.
Among those coaches already inducted are John Chaney, Marv Harshman, Ray Meyer and Ralph Miller.
Chaney compiled a record of 741-312 in 34 seasons, the first 10 at Division 2 Cheyney State and the last 24 at Temple. He won one national title at Cheyney State and qualified for the NCAA Tournament 17 times at Temple. He guided five Temple teams to the Elite Eight.
Harshman, a native of Eau Claire, compiled a record of 637-444 in 40 seasons, 13 at Pacific Lutheran in Washington, 13 at Washington State and the last