Varsity Magazine Vol. 6 No. 19
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CONTENTS DECEMBER 22, 2015 ■ VOLUME 6, ISSUE 19 FEATURE STORY DAVID STLUKA DAVID TIME TO TAKE HIS TURN No one has had a better seat than Greg Gard for soaking up what made Bo Ryan a legend. Now Gard is ready to take what he’s learned and apply his own stamp to the Badgers’ program. FEATURES BADGERS GIVE BACK IN [FOCUS] CULTURE OF CARING The week's best photos UW’s ever-growing volunteer initiative THE VOICE has left a lasting impression on peo Looking back, looking ahead ple from all walks of life ― especially on the Badgers themselves. BY THE NUMBERS Facts and figures on UW LUCAS AT LARGE WHAT TO WATCH Where to catch the Badgers READY FOR MOORE ATHLETES OF THE MONTH Badgers’ best and brightest Howard Moore has seen Greg Gard’s work up close, and what he knows STLUKA DAVID of UW’s new interim head coach has ASK THE BADGERS him excited to rejoin the staff. Childhood career dreams BADGERING-SCROLL FOR MORE Johnny Jimenez (Wrestling) Wisconsin Athletic Communications Kellner Hall, 1440 Monroe St., Madison, WI 53711 VIEW ALL ISSUES Brian Lucas Director of Athletic Communications Julia Hujet Editor/Designer Brian Mason Managing Editor Mike Lucas Senior Writer Andy Baggot Writer Matt Lepay Columnist Chris Hall, Jerry Mao Video Production Amy Eager Advertising Drew Pittner-Smith Distribution Contributors Paul Capobianco, Tam Flarup, Kelli Grashel, A.J. Harrison, Brandon Harrison, Patrick Herb, Diane Nordstrom Photography David Stluka, Neil Ament, Greg Anderson, Bob Campbell, Cal Sport Media, Icon Sportswire Cover Photo: David Stluka Problems or Accessibility Issues? [email protected] © 2015 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. All rights reserved worldwide. LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ■ UWBADGERS.COM Moore appreciates challenge facing Gard t was only natural that the a long time.” insider’s access to Gard, and young assistant coaches might As fate would have it, Moore Moore can definitely supply it. Igravitate towards each other and Gard would get to know each “Greg is a very humble guy since Howard Moore, Greg Gard, other a lot better. In 2005, Jeter ― hardworking, determined Tony Bennett and Rob Jeter were left the Ryan nest to become the and very focused,” Moore said. all about the same age. head coach at Milwaukee and “Those are the things that really They were all driven by the Moore replaced him at Wiscon gained my respect for him right same thing, too, they wanted to sin. off the bat. be a head coach someday. For five seasons, Moore worked “We had a great working rela Fourteen years ago, Moore, a in unison with Gard and Gary tionship. We communicated on former UW basketball player, was Close, who joined Ryan’s staff a daily basis about basketball, toiling as an assistant at Bradley in 2003 after Bennett went to recruiting and just operational University and Gard, Bennett and Washington State to be with his things within the program. It was Jeter were on Bo Ryan’s first staff father, Dick, the former UW head always a good relationship that at Wisconsin. coach. way.” “I really didn’t know Greg that As a result of his coaching stint There’s something else about well,” Moore recalled. “We talked with the Badgers, there’s not Gard’s qualifications that might a little bit, small talk. He remem another Big Ten Network ana not be as readily apparent out bered when I played for the Bad lyst that can offer more insight side of Madison, according to gers and I knew that he was with on Gard than Moore, who’s in Moore, because of the long shad Bo and we built it from there. the midst of his first season with ow cast by Ryan the last 15 sea “It’s one of those things where BTN. sons. I barely remember when we first With Ryan’s retirement, Gard’s “Greg has a good eye for tal met ― I think we met at a Final interim title has become one of ent; I don’t think he gets enough Four after their first year at UW― the talking points in the confer credit for that,” he said. “He has but I felt like I had known him for ence. People are thirsting for an recruited a lot of the top players DAVID STLUKA DAVID Howard Moore LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 1 OF 3 LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ■ UWBADGERS.COM that have played for Bo. He un “From that standpoint of a He was named the head coach derstands what recruiting is all family wanting genuine people to at Illinois-Chicago. He was born about.” help their sons grow and devel and raised not far from the UIC Gard understands Wisconsin. op, Greg is definitely a genuine campus. He played ball in the He understands what this school person. He’s very real, very warm Chicago Public League at Taft is all about academically, ath …” High School. letically and socially. He under Very much in the spotlight to Moore, then 37, had no previ stands what he has to sell and day as the interim head coach. ous head coaching experience. how he should go about selling it. “But you look at opportunities “It’s a different place from the when they come,” he said, “and perspective of there’s a certain “HE’S GOING TO BE RESPON you prepare yourself as much as way you have to go about do SIBLE FOR EVERYONE IN THE you can for them. ing things,” said Moore, whose PROGRAM AND WHAT NEEDS TO “When I was at Wisconsin (as greatest catch as a UW recruit TAKE PLACE,” MOORE SAID OF an assistant), there were a lot of er was Frank Kaminsky. “That’s GARD. “AND HE’S GOING TO BE things that I observed under Bo what makes it (Wisconsin) so RELIED ON TO MOVE IT FOR that he really didn’t have to teach unique. There are no short cuts. me or tell me. It prepared me for WARD. I THINK HE’S PREPARED There’s nothing that is going to a lot of things that I ran into.” allow you to cut corners. People FOR ALL OF THOSE THINGS.” He believes the same is true respect hard work; rolling up of Gard, a Ryan assistant for 23 your sleeve and getting after it. “You’re now the one in con years at three schools, includ “That blue collar approach is trol,” Moore said. “You’re respon ing the last 15 with the Badgers; not going to change.” sible for anything that doesn’t a continuity that should not be All of which has been in Gard’s happen well. And you get very lit ignored, Moore implied. wheelhouse. tle credit for all of the things that “He will now be challenged “You just have to be yourself in do go well. Nature of the beast.” with making some strong deci recruiting,” said Moore. “If you Been there. Done that. Moore sions that are going to affect the try to come in and be something has been in the jaws of the program,” he said. “That’s not that you’re not, the kids will see beast. Hired and fired. just from recruiting but from a through that. It’s phony to them. In 2010, he went home again. game-to-game situation. LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 2 OF 3 LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ■ UWBADGERS.COM “He’s going to be responsi the administration that he has a ple of calls, but not enough.” ble for everyone in the program firm grip on what it takes to keep Moore now has a much dif and what needs to take place. the program going in the right ferent view of things from the And he’s going to be relied on to direction.” BTN studios in Chicago. “You move it forward. I think he’s pre Based on his own move from don’t have a win or a loss (af pared for all of those things.” assistant to head coach ― the terwards),” he said. “You report Moore knows something about proverbial 18 inches on the what you see and that’s it.” coaching transitions from a play bench ― what might Moore Despite his BTN affiliation, he er’s standpoint. At Wisconsin, he share with Gard about sideline still wears his heart on his sleeve had three different head coach demeanor for a first-timer? and a W on his letter jacket. “I’m es: Steve Yoder, Stu Jackson and “There’s no way in the world always going to be biased that Stan Van Gundy. that I could sit,” Moore said. “So way,” he said. “That’s my alma Jackson left for the NBA the I was either in my Bo Ryan kneel mater. I’m very proud of that pro summer before his senior year. (or catcher’s crouch) or I was gram.” Van Gundy took over and was standing up chirping at the offi And he’s not about to hide the given a five-year deal, though the cials. fact that he’s pulling for Gard. administration may have viewed “As an assistant, you have to “It’s a matter of supporting him,” him as an interim. That was the be disciplined and you have to Moore said, “and letting him perception. stay out of the way of the head know I’m here for him if he needs Van Gundy was fired after a 13 coach. But when I became one, I anything.” The Badger Way.