A question-and-answer session with University of Wisconsin men's basketball coach Bo Ryan, who will be at Dick's Piggly Wiggly tonight to sign copies of his book, "Another Hill to Climb":
Q: Overall, what's a quick synopsis of your book for a fan wanting to buy it, and why did you do it?
A: Basically, I had been asked to do a book before, but I didn't want to want to talk about a particular season. After we won the national championships at Platteville, some guys had asked me if I wanted to do that and I thought, 'Well, if I have a message to send I'll think about doing one.'
Well finally, Mike Lucas was talking to me and we were talking about the route that I had taken to getting to be a coach at a major college like Wisconsin.
I had started out an economics major, and then coaching and teaching at junior high, high school, NAIA, Division 3, and then as an assistant and working my way through the ranks at different levels. Most coaches now that get jobs have not worked at a junior high or high school.
So that's what we talk about. "Another Hill To Climb" is showing that hills are challenges and not necessarily obstacles. And they are always challenging. Whether you're coaching or in business - and businesses now are finding that there are a lot of hills out there.
So, that's why we ended up doing the book at this time.
Q: You're basketball journey has obviously been marvelous - from your national championships at Platteville to your career now at Wisconsin - what do you think that has to say about your philosophy of basketball and your style of coaching? It seems like a certain type of player fits into your mold.
A: Any type of player can fit into my mold. I always laugh when people say I only recruit guys for my system. Well, my system is to play very good basketball. That's a heck of a system to have, isn't it? Is that any different from the other guys?
The thing about Platteville was guys would say, "Your teams look the same every year." Well what does that mean? "Well they don't turn the ball over very often. They play pretty good 'D'. They share the ball. They're not greedy and they are not into themselves."
Well I think that's the way every team should play, whether its basketball or not. I take that as a compliment when people say that. It doesn't matter what level you're on, it still boils down to getting guys who want to compete with one another, help one another. Because on offense you've got to be unselfish.
But you also need those guys that have that killer instinct in them and want to be successful. Those are the kind of guys I'm looking for, those are the kind of guys I've been fortunate enough to coach. And that's what makes it fun.
Q: You've recruited some of the big-time state players and some of the players from around the Midwest, what kind of a chance does a player from the coasts or far South have of finding their way to Wisconsin? Obviously you've found some kids from the area.
A: Well we only have "X" number of available scholarships. If we fill them up from the area, then that's fine with us. We tend to find guys where they are, and the closer they are the better. For me, they are going to be more associated with the program. Their parents have less of a travel. But there are times that there are players that come from other areas - from Arizona, from Texas this year with our freshmen, and from Ohio.
It depends. Some years the state has more caliber athletes for what we're looking for. Some years, maybe not. Sometimes you have to pick and choose.
The truth is, everybody who comes here wants to be here. They weren't sold a bill of goods. Still, when I recruit I under-promise and try to over-deliver, rather than over-promise - tell guys they are going to do this and do that. I want guys who want to come in here, work hard and show us what they can do. Not promise them things that I'm not sure of. I like to deal in the reality of how tough it is to be a good student-athlete. It's not easy. They aren't given scholarships - they earn them.
Q: Can you talk a little bit of your top newcomers?
A: All five of them are working really hard in practice. They all bring something a little different to the table. But they all have a great work ethic. The preseason conditioning - they were fine. There were no issues at all. Now it's a matter of how well they pick up the system. It's still too early to tell that.
Q: Overall, how is this season looking. You've got some great returners, and now with the younger guys, how is everything moving along?
A: I just like the way they are working. The four veterans - Krabbenhoft, Landry, Bohannon and Hughes - are all offering a lot of good leadership from the standpoint of how they are handling the workouts and their leadership on campus and everything that we do.
That's good, but the other teams all have good players too, and they bring some experience back. So we have to fill in some spots. We have to find the guys to get the rest of those minutes from the guys who graduated last year.
Q: Pat Murphy, a former player of yours from Platteville, is the coach here in Monroe. Any kind words about him?
A: Pat Murphy is a great, great coach and he was a heck of a player for me. That's as true of a statement as I can give you. If you see Murph, tell him I said 'Hi.'
Q: Any other last comments?
A: It's been neat going around the state doing these signings.
Everybody has a neat story or a reason why they are getting the book, which is kind of neat - either for a birthday, or Christmas. And I've had a chance to re-connect with people.
I know there are a lot of Badger fans down in Monroe, so I know it will be fun to get down there and do this.
Q: Overall, what's a quick synopsis of your book for a fan wanting to buy it, and why did you do it?
A: Basically, I had been asked to do a book before, but I didn't want to want to talk about a particular season. After we won the national championships at Platteville, some guys had asked me if I wanted to do that and I thought, 'Well, if I have a message to send I'll think about doing one.'
Well finally, Mike Lucas was talking to me and we were talking about the route that I had taken to getting to be a coach at a major college like Wisconsin.
I had started out an economics major, and then coaching and teaching at junior high, high school, NAIA, Division 3, and then as an assistant and working my way through the ranks at different levels. Most coaches now that get jobs have not worked at a junior high or high school.
So that's what we talk about. "Another Hill To Climb" is showing that hills are challenges and not necessarily obstacles. And they are always challenging. Whether you're coaching or in business - and businesses now are finding that there are a lot of hills out there.
So, that's why we ended up doing the book at this time.
Q: You're basketball journey has obviously been marvelous - from your national championships at Platteville to your career now at Wisconsin - what do you think that has to say about your philosophy of basketball and your style of coaching? It seems like a certain type of player fits into your mold.
A: Any type of player can fit into my mold. I always laugh when people say I only recruit guys for my system. Well, my system is to play very good basketball. That's a heck of a system to have, isn't it? Is that any different from the other guys?
The thing about Platteville was guys would say, "Your teams look the same every year." Well what does that mean? "Well they don't turn the ball over very often. They play pretty good 'D'. They share the ball. They're not greedy and they are not into themselves."
Well I think that's the way every team should play, whether its basketball or not. I take that as a compliment when people say that. It doesn't matter what level you're on, it still boils down to getting guys who want to compete with one another, help one another. Because on offense you've got to be unselfish.
But you also need those guys that have that killer instinct in them and want to be successful. Those are the kind of guys I'm looking for, those are the kind of guys I've been fortunate enough to coach. And that's what makes it fun.
Q: You've recruited some of the big-time state players and some of the players from around the Midwest, what kind of a chance does a player from the coasts or far South have of finding their way to Wisconsin? Obviously you've found some kids from the area.
A: Well we only have "X" number of available scholarships. If we fill them up from the area, then that's fine with us. We tend to find guys where they are, and the closer they are the better. For me, they are going to be more associated with the program. Their parents have less of a travel. But there are times that there are players that come from other areas - from Arizona, from Texas this year with our freshmen, and from Ohio.
It depends. Some years the state has more caliber athletes for what we're looking for. Some years, maybe not. Sometimes you have to pick and choose.
The truth is, everybody who comes here wants to be here. They weren't sold a bill of goods. Still, when I recruit I under-promise and try to over-deliver, rather than over-promise - tell guys they are going to do this and do that. I want guys who want to come in here, work hard and show us what they can do. Not promise them things that I'm not sure of. I like to deal in the reality of how tough it is to be a good student-athlete. It's not easy. They aren't given scholarships - they earn them.
Q: Can you talk a little bit of your top newcomers?
A: All five of them are working really hard in practice. They all bring something a little different to the table. But they all have a great work ethic. The preseason conditioning - they were fine. There were no issues at all. Now it's a matter of how well they pick up the system. It's still too early to tell that.
Q: Overall, how is this season looking. You've got some great returners, and now with the younger guys, how is everything moving along?
A: I just like the way they are working. The four veterans - Krabbenhoft, Landry, Bohannon and Hughes - are all offering a lot of good leadership from the standpoint of how they are handling the workouts and their leadership on campus and everything that we do.
That's good, but the other teams all have good players too, and they bring some experience back. So we have to fill in some spots. We have to find the guys to get the rest of those minutes from the guys who graduated last year.
Q: Pat Murphy, a former player of yours from Platteville, is the coach here in Monroe. Any kind words about him?
A: Pat Murphy is a great, great coach and he was a heck of a player for me. That's as true of a statement as I can give you. If you see Murph, tell him I said 'Hi.'
Q: Any other last comments?
A: It's been neat going around the state doing these signings.
Everybody has a neat story or a reason why they are getting the book, which is kind of neat - either for a birthday, or Christmas. And I've had a chance to re-connect with people.
I know there are a lot of Badger fans down in Monroe, so I know it will be fun to get down there and do this.
