Wow, we all knew this would end at some point and I'm super grateful for all the phenomenal memories. When I went to school, basketball stunk and Yoder was the best they could get. Thanks to Dick Bennett for starting the run, a very astute evaluator of talent, Pat Richter and for the tireless efforts of Bo Ryan, the program reached heights we never thought possible. He recruited who he wanted, taught them basketball at a very different level and we enjoyed the beauty of the game. He valued the things in basketball that make a difference, and he ran a very fair program, not recruiting over kids who clearly shouldn't have been in the program. He taught them life lessons and treated them with respect. He had simple rules and followed them.
I personally loved his press conferences as when he got going, he shared some of his mental preparedness that he taught the players and the way he approached coaching and his position. My two kids, ending up with conference honors (I'd like to think coach Ryan had something to do with that) during their high school basketball careers enjoyed watching the games with me and I could bond with them in discussing why they were doing some things and not others. All the way out in Seattle my kids grew up loving Bo Ryan as a coach and have wonderful respect for him. My son texted me from college in California the night Bo retired "I'm depressed". It's good to know he had a wonderful effect on the players, administration, program, fans, alumni and some kids 2500 miles away. You will be sorely missed, but thank you for so many lessons and your contributions coach Ryan!
I personally loved his press conferences as when he got going, he shared some of his mental preparedness that he taught the players and the way he approached coaching and his position. My two kids, ending up with conference honors (I'd like to think coach Ryan had something to do with that) during their high school basketball careers enjoyed watching the games with me and I could bond with them in discussing why they were doing some things and not others. All the way out in Seattle my kids grew up loving Bo Ryan as a coach and have wonderful respect for him. My son texted me from college in California the night Bo retired "I'm depressed". It's good to know he had a wonderful effect on the players, administration, program, fans, alumni and some kids 2500 miles away. You will be sorely missed, but thank you for so many lessons and your contributions coach Ryan!
