After coaching one of the most unlikely turnarounds college basketball has ever seen, University of Wisconsin-Madison officials are preparing to offer interim head coach Greg Gard and his coaching staff a long-term contract, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Thursday.
According to the article, “two sources close to the program,” said “UW officials have been blown away by the work of Gard” — and they have little reason not to be.
After taking over a program that had been struggling under former head coach Bo Ryan with a 7-5 record — including losses at the hands of Western Illinois and UW-Milwaukee — Gard has led the team to a 13-5 record overall and has UW-Madison in place to earn a top-four finish in the Big Ten.
More impressively, the Badgers have now won 11 of their last 12 games under Gard, which has included victories over No. 4 Michigan State, No. 2 Maryland and No. 8 Iowa.
Men’s basketball: Badgers down Wolverines in regular season home finale
The UW System Board of Regents must approve any hiring, and is scheduled to meet March 7, with the announcement of the hire expected to come in a press conference Tuesday afternoon, according to Jim Polzin of the Wisconsin State Journal. The Badgers will play their first game of the Big Ten tournament either March 10, and it will be the first time they play under head coach Greg Gard.
Gard’s deal is reportedly going to be a five-year contract, with the head coach earning around $2 million per year.
Yes, 5 years for close to $2 mil/year. https://t.co/fINkFJzR2I
— Jeff Potrykus (@jaypo1961) March 7, 2016
In terms of the coaching search itself, Gard has been nothing short of supportive for Athletic Director Barry Alvarez.
“Coach Alvarez has handled this thing absolutely perfectly,” Gard said following Wisconsin’s final home game against Michigan Sunday. “He said from day one, I need to do a national search. I need to post the job. That’s university requirements. I’ve totally agreed with that and I always have.”
Men’s basketball: Gard’s ‘one day at a time’ approach showing success
Along with Gard, Alvarez is expected also keep his staff, including assistant coaches Lamont Paris, Gary Close and former UW-Madison player Howard Moore, who was hired in December after Ryan’s departure.
Applications for the head coaching position officially close Thursday afternoon.
