
Will Ryan is a basketball coach and the former head of the Green Bay Phoenix men's basketball team. Ryan, a native of Platteville, Wisconsin, began his college basketball career at Wisconsin–Platteville, where he helped the team win two Division III championships in 1998 and 1999. He was hired by Green Bay in 2020 and was fired in January 2023 after a 15-61 record in 2½ seasons.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | William Francis Ryan III |
| Birthdate | July 8, 1978 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Basketball coach |
| Team | Green Bay Phoenix men's basketball team |
| Alma Mater | Milwaukee |
| Degree | Bachelor's degree in educational studies and youth leadership |
| Spouse | Emily |
| Record | 15-61 in 2½ seasons |
| Seasons as Head Coach | 2020-2023 |
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Will Ryan's tenure as head coach of Green Bay men's basketball team
Will Ryan was hired as the head coach of the Green Bay Phoenix men's basketball team on June 6, 2020. He replaced Linc Darner, who was fired after leading the team to a 17-16 record in the 2019-20 season. Ryan is a native of Platteville, Wisconsin, and began his college basketball career at Wisconsin-Platteville, winning two Division III championships in 1998 and 1999. He then transferred to Milwaukee, where he played his senior season under Bruce Pearl and graduated with a bachelor's degree in educational studies and youth leadership in December 2002.
Before taking the head coach position at Green Bay, Ryan had served as an assistant coach at North Dakota State under Saul Phillips from 2007 to 2014, helping the team reach the NCAA tournament twice. In his final season with the Bison, they won a school-record 26 games and defeated Oklahoma. Ryan also had experience as a head coach, leading the Wisconsin Swing AAU club in 2005 and the Division II program Wheeling in West Virginia for one season, where he went 14-13.
Ryan's first season as head coach of the Green Bay Phoenix did not go well, as the team finished with an 8-17 record. The following season, things did not improve, and on January 31, 2023, Ryan was fired after starting the season with a 2-19 record and an 11-game losing streak. In his nearly three seasons with the program, Ryan posted a 15-61 record. Athletic Director Josh Moon thanked Ryan for his contributions and wished him the best in his future endeavors.
During his tenure, Ryan guided the team through a challenging period, but they struggled to find consistent success on the court. Despite the team's poor performance, Ryan's departure came as a surprise to some, as he had signed a six-year contract with the university in 2020. Assistant Coach Freddie Owens was named interim head coach for the remainder of the 2022-23 season.
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Will Ryan's career before becoming head coach of Green Bay
Will Ryan began his college basketball career at Wisconsin–Platteville, where he helped the team win two Division III championships in 1998 and 1999. He then transferred to Milwaukee, where he played his senior season under Bruce Pearl and graduated in December 2002 with a bachelor's degree in educational studies and youth leadership.
Ryan's first coaching experience came as a member of his father's staff at Wisconsin, where he served as the director of basketball operations and video coordinator from 2002 to 2007. During this time, he also had a stint as the head coach of the Wisconsin Swing AAU club in 2005. From 2007 to 2014, Ryan worked as an assistant coach at North Dakota State under Saul Phillips, helping the team reach the NCAA tournament twice. In his final season with the Bison, they won a school-record 26 games and defeated Oklahoma.
Ryan then went on to become the head coach at Wheeling in West Virginia for the 2014-15 season, where he posted a 14-13 record. This caught the attention of Green Bay, who hired him in June 2020 to replace Linc Darner as the head coach of their men's basketball program.
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Will Ryan's family and personal life
Will Ryan, born William Francis Ryan III on July 8, 1978, is a native of Platteville, Wisconsin. He is the son of former Wisconsin coach and College Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, William Francis "Bo" Ryan Jr. He began his college basketball career at Wisconsin–Platteville, winning two Division III championships in 1998 and 1999. Ryan then transferred to Milwaukee, where he played his senior season under Bruce Pearl and graduated with a bachelor's degree in educational studies and youth leadership in December 2002.
Ryan served on his father's staff at Wisconsin as the director of basketball operations and video coordinator from 2002 to 2007. During this time, he also had a stint as the head coach of the Wisconsin Swing AAU club in 2005. From 2007 to 2014, he worked as an assistant coach at North Dakota State under Saul Phillips, helping the team reach the NCAA tournament twice.
In his personal life, Ryan is married to Emily, a native of Fox Valley. He signed a six-year contract with the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay in June 2020, becoming the head coach of the Green Bay Phoenix men's basketball team. However, he was fired from this position in January 2023 after a losing streak.
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Green Bay's search for a new head coach after parting ways with Will Ryan
The University of Wisconsin Green Bay Athletics has begun its search for a new head coach after Will Ryan was fired midway through his third season with the team. Ryan, who is a native of Platteville, Wisconsin, and the son of former Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan, was relieved of his duties on January 31, 2023, following a poor run of results.
In two and a half seasons with the Green Bay Phoenix men's basketball team, Ryan posted a 15-61 record. This included an 8-17 record in his first season and a 2-19 start to his third season, which proved to be the final straw for the university's athletic director, Josh Moon. Moon, in a news release announcing the decision, emphasized the university's commitment to excellence in Division I athletics and expressed gratitude to Ryan and his family for their contributions.
Assistant coach Freddie Owens was named interim head coach for the remainder of the 2022-23 season. Owens, who had been a part of Ryan's staff, now has the challenging task of turning around the team's fortunes and leading them back to success. While Owens steps into the interim role, the university will be actively searching for a permanent replacement for Ryan.
The new head coach will have the task of rebuilding the program and leading the team to a more competitive level. With the team's recent struggles, the university will be looking for a coach who can bring a new vision and strategy to improve the team's performance and elevate them in the Horizon League. The search for a new head coach will likely involve a comprehensive evaluation process, considering candidates' experience, coaching philosophy, and ability to lead the team in a new direction.
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Will Ryan's coaching staff at Green Bay
Will Ryan is an American basketball coach who served as the head coach of the Green Bay Phoenix men's basketball team. In 2022-23, Ryan entered his third season as head coach, after being named the 8th head coach in the spring of 2020. Ryan replaced Linc Darner, who was fired after leading the Phoenix to a 17-16 record in 2019-20.
Ryan's coaching staff at Green Bay included assistant coach Freddie Owens, who was named interim head coach after Ryan's departure in January 2023. Jared Swanson also joined Ryan's staff as an assistant coach for the 2022-23 season, bringing prior experience from Northern State and Ohio University. Brandon Pritzl served as a graduate assistant, having previously worked with Ryan at Ohio. Adam Owens was named the Director of Basketball Operations in June 2022.
Prior to his role at Green Bay, Ryan served on staffs at Ohio, North Dakota State, and Wisconsin, including as director of basketball operations and video coordinator for his father, College Basketball Hall of Famer Bo Ryan, from 2002 to 2007. Ryan's success as a coach includes leading teams to Division III championships, NCAA tournaments, and conference wins.
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Frequently asked questions
Will Ryan is an American basketball coach and the former head coach of the Green Bay Phoenix men's basketball team. He is the son of former Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan.
In his 2 and a half seasons as head coach of the Green Bay Phoenix, Will Ryan posted a 15-61 record. In his first season, the team had an 8-17 record.
Will Ryan was fired from his position as head coach of the Green Bay Phoenix men's basketball team in January 2023. This came after a poor run of results, including an 11-game losing streak.
After Will Ryan's departure, assistant coach Freddie Owens was named interim head coach for the rest of the 2022/23 season.











































