Greg Gard has been coaching basketball since 1990, starting during his college days at Wisconsin Platteville.
A Coach Shaped by Wisconsin and Built for the Long Haul
He is a true basketball lifer who has spent his entire collegiate career within the state of Wisconsin. Now 54 and entering season number 11 at the University of Wisconsin, Gard continues to anchor the program with the same steady approach that has defined his career.
The Badgers Hit the Road with Confidence
Wisconsin heads into a major challenge on Friday when they face the BYU Cougars. The Badgers are off to a 4 0 start and are chasing their fifth straight 20 win season while eyeing a third straight NCAA Tournament appearance. The only recent miss came during the 2022 23 season, when they reached the NIT semifinals.
Gard arrives at this matchup with a 216-117 career record, including 117 Big Ten victories. He has won 60 percent of his league games and has taken the Badgers to two Sweet 16 appearances, both coming early in his tenure after taking over for Bo Ryan. In total, Wisconsin has reached the NCAA Tournament seven times under Gard and has won its opening game six times.
A Program Steady in Its Identity
During Gard’s tenure, Wisconsin has claimed two Big Ten regular season titles, most recently in 2022. He has twice been named Big Ten Coach of the Year and also earned the Jim Phelan Award in 2016. Before becoming head coach, Gard spent years working alongside Ryan, serving as associate head coach from 2008 to 2015 after being an assistant from 2001 to 2008. His earlier coaching stops include Southwestern High School, Platteville High School, Wisconsin Platteville and UW Milwaukee.
Looking Back to Last Year to Understand the Stakes
The Badgers finished 27 10 last season, winning 13 of their 20 Big Ten matchups and finishing fourth in the conference. Their season ended in Denver, where BYU knocked Wisconsin out in the second round. The Cougars were then blown out by Alabama, but their win over Wisconsin still stings for Gard’s returning group.
A New Season, a New Challenge
This year’s Badgers are led by Nick Boyd, who is averaging 20 points per game. Wisconsin has four players in double figures and is scoring 93.3 points per game through the first four contests. The defense has been sturdy as well, holding opponents to just 65 points per game.
Friday’s trip to Utah marks Wisconsin’s first true test, and tougher games await. The Badgers will face Providence on Thanksgiving Day, begin Big Ten play against Northwestern on December 3 and battle both Marquette and Villanova before the close of the calendar year.
Gard Knows What Awaits in Provo
BYU is not Campbell, Northern Illinois, Ball State or Southern Illinois Edwardsville. The stage will be bigger, the challenge sharper and the spotlight brighter. But history says Wisconsin under Greg Gard rarely shies away from moments like this. The Badgers know exactly what they are stepping into, and they are ready for it.