MONROE - There is no denying who was the most popular coach for the University of Wisconsin-Madison to address Badger fans at the 61st annual Monroe Badger Days Tuesday.
UW men's basketball coach Bo Ryan signed an autograph for one boy. Ryan guided the Badgers to the Final Four and received a standing ovation when he went up to talk about the Badgers' run.
"How much do they have to pay you to do that?" Ryan said. "It's always a warm and fuzzy feeling when you come here. I was proud of the team during that Final Four run."
Ryan made the trip despite the fact that the Badgers basketball camp is going on this week. He was one of four UW coaches to speak to a packed crowd at the Ludlow Mansion for Badger Days. The two-day Badger Days bash is a fundraiser sponsored by Colony Brands to raise money for UW Athletic Department. Matt Lepay, the voice of the Badgers men's basketball team and the Badgers football team since 1994, always looks forward to coming to Monroe.
"This is one of the dates you circle," Lepay said. "We enjoy coming down and talking UW athletics. There is so much to shout about."
Ryan, like UW men's hockey coach Mike Eaves, women's hockey coach Mark Johnson and women's basketball coach Bobbie Kelsey, updated the Badger fans on the season and incoming recruits. Former Badger football players Cecil Martin and Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne were on hand for the Badger Days event. Badger Days was started by Pat Kubly's father, Ray Kubly.
The Badgers men's basketball team will have four of five starters back including 7-footer Frank Kaminsky. Ryan said incoming 6-8 freshman Ethan Happ of Taylor Ridge, Ill., was the MVP for the U.S. team in the U-18 Albert Schwitzer Tournament in Germany. Happ is the son of Toronto Blue Jays pitcher J.A. Happ.
Sheila Berrey, the director of Monroe Badger Days, who is retiring from Colony Brands in February, was recognized by UW Athletics Director Barry Alvarez for her service to the Badger Days event. Berrey received a Badgers football helmet with autographs from all of the UW coaches.
"The tradition and continued support here is appreciated," Alvarez said of Berrey and Colony Brands. "It's like family to us."
The Badgers basketball team wasn't the only Wisconsin team to have success last year. The women's hockey team made it to the Frozen Four, and Johnson has steered the Badgers to four national championships. The UW men's hockey team won the inaugural Big Ten championship and made the NCAA tournament. Alvarez said that since the 1990s, the Badgers have had the most consistent athletic programs across every sport in the Big Ten.
"Don't take winning for granted," he said. "It's hard. The competition in the Big Ten gets harder and harder."
Johnson just finished his 11th year coaching UW women's hockey. There were four previous Badgers on the U.S. women's hockey team in the Olympics, and he has six incoming freshmen who are looking to make an immediate impact.
Johnson said UW projects like building the $34.09 million La Bahn Arena, which serves as the home for women's and men's hockey, as well as the new football locker rooms, are made possible through community support and donations.
"More of those facilities are not possible without the support of the community," Johnson said.
Kelsey, the UW women's basketball coach, is looking to help the Badgers build a title contender. The Badgers finished 10-19 last year and lost five games in overtime.
"I might need that helmet if I don't get some wins," Kelsey said referring to the football helmet Berrey received.
Kelsey came to Wisconsin after serving as an assistant coach for Stanford where she was a part of seven national championships. Kelsey will rely on first-team All-Big Ten selection Michala Johnson.
"People ask why I came to Wisconsin," she said. "I came because I'm competitive and I want to build something. I'm still looking for the Cecil Martins and Ron Daynes because when they came to the football program they were great."
UW men's basketball coach Bo Ryan signed an autograph for one boy. Ryan guided the Badgers to the Final Four and received a standing ovation when he went up to talk about the Badgers' run.
"How much do they have to pay you to do that?" Ryan said. "It's always a warm and fuzzy feeling when you come here. I was proud of the team during that Final Four run."
Ryan made the trip despite the fact that the Badgers basketball camp is going on this week. He was one of four UW coaches to speak to a packed crowd at the Ludlow Mansion for Badger Days. The two-day Badger Days bash is a fundraiser sponsored by Colony Brands to raise money for UW Athletic Department. Matt Lepay, the voice of the Badgers men's basketball team and the Badgers football team since 1994, always looks forward to coming to Monroe.
"This is one of the dates you circle," Lepay said. "We enjoy coming down and talking UW athletics. There is so much to shout about."
Ryan, like UW men's hockey coach Mike Eaves, women's hockey coach Mark Johnson and women's basketball coach Bobbie Kelsey, updated the Badger fans on the season and incoming recruits. Former Badger football players Cecil Martin and Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne were on hand for the Badger Days event. Badger Days was started by Pat Kubly's father, Ray Kubly.
The Badgers men's basketball team will have four of five starters back including 7-footer Frank Kaminsky. Ryan said incoming 6-8 freshman Ethan Happ of Taylor Ridge, Ill., was the MVP for the U.S. team in the U-18 Albert Schwitzer Tournament in Germany. Happ is the son of Toronto Blue Jays pitcher J.A. Happ.
Sheila Berrey, the director of Monroe Badger Days, who is retiring from Colony Brands in February, was recognized by UW Athletics Director Barry Alvarez for her service to the Badger Days event. Berrey received a Badgers football helmet with autographs from all of the UW coaches.
"The tradition and continued support here is appreciated," Alvarez said of Berrey and Colony Brands. "It's like family to us."
The Badgers basketball team wasn't the only Wisconsin team to have success last year. The women's hockey team made it to the Frozen Four, and Johnson has steered the Badgers to four national championships. The UW men's hockey team won the inaugural Big Ten championship and made the NCAA tournament. Alvarez said that since the 1990s, the Badgers have had the most consistent athletic programs across every sport in the Big Ten.
"Don't take winning for granted," he said. "It's hard. The competition in the Big Ten gets harder and harder."
Johnson just finished his 11th year coaching UW women's hockey. There were four previous Badgers on the U.S. women's hockey team in the Olympics, and he has six incoming freshmen who are looking to make an immediate impact.
Johnson said UW projects like building the $34.09 million La Bahn Arena, which serves as the home for women's and men's hockey, as well as the new football locker rooms, are made possible through community support and donations.
"More of those facilities are not possible without the support of the community," Johnson said.
Kelsey, the UW women's basketball coach, is looking to help the Badgers build a title contender. The Badgers finished 10-19 last year and lost five games in overtime.
"I might need that helmet if I don't get some wins," Kelsey said referring to the football helmet Berrey received.
Kelsey came to Wisconsin after serving as an assistant coach for Stanford where she was a part of seven national championships. Kelsey will rely on first-team All-Big Ten selection Michala Johnson.
"People ask why I came to Wisconsin," she said. "I came because I'm competitive and I want to build something. I'm still looking for the Cecil Martins and Ron Daynes because when they came to the football program they were great."
