The one-time NCAA champion (1941), the Wisconsin Badgers of the University of Wisconsin-Madison compete in the Big Ten Conference and call the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin, their home turf. The times before the 1934–35 season weren't as good for the Badgers until former Badger Bud Foster assumed the role of head coach and led them to their 12th Big Ten Conference Championship after 28 years. It was during his tenure that they received their only NCAA championship trophy.
The Badger's journey began in December 1898, when Dr. James C. Elsom took the helm as the first coach of the Wisconsin Badgers basketball team. Their debut game in January 1899, in Milwaukee, ended in defeat with a score of 25–15 against the Milwaukee Normal Alumni.
Wisconsin Badgers Men’s Basketball Head Coach 2024
In 2024-25, Greg Gard will begin his 10th season as Wisconsin Badgers head coach. He succeeded Bo Ryan, with whom he had worked as an assistant coach for 23 years. In December 2015, when Ryan announced his resignation, Gard was promoted to temporary head coach.
Within six months, Gard was hired as head coach in March 2016. However, the Badgers struggled when he took over in the 2015-16 season, winning only two of their next seven games and finishing 9-9 overall. But then they won 11 of their next 13 games to finish the regular season, tying for third place with a 20-11 record. Following the season, he received the 2016 Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year award, and furthermore, in 2020 and 2022, he was named Big Ten Coach of the Year.
Greg Gard’s Physical Attributes
| Age | 53 years old |
Greg Gard’s Age
Gregory Glen Gard, aka Greg Gard, was born on December 3, 1970, in Cobb, Wisconsin, United States. As of November 2024, he is 53 years old. Gard graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Platteville in 1995.
Wisconsin Basketball Head Coach, year-by-year
The head coaches of Wisconsin basketball are as follows, year by year:
| Coach | Years | Record | Conf. Rec. | Conf. Titles | Win % |
| James C. Elsom | 1898–1904 | 25–14 | – | – | 64% |
| Emmett Angell | 1904–1908 | 43–15 | 19–5 | 2 | 74% |
| Haskell Noyes | 1908–1911 | 26–15 | 18–15 | – | 63% |
| Walter Meanwell | 1911–1917 | 92–9 | 63–9 | 4 | 91% |
| Guy Lowman | 1917–1920 | 34–19 | 19–17 | 1 | 64% |
| Walter Meanwell | 1920–1934 | 154–90 | 95–71 | 4 | 63% |
| Bud Foster | 1934–1959 | 265–267 | 143–182 | 3 | 50% |
| John E. Erickson | 1959–1968 | 100–114 | 52–74 | – | 47% |
| John Powless | 1968–1976 | 88–108 | 42–78 | – | 45% |
| Bill Cofield | 1976–1982 | 63–101 | 32–76 | – | 38% |
| Steve Yoder | 1982–1992 | 128–165 | 50–130 | – | 44% |
| Stu Jackson | 1992–1994 | 32–25 | 15–21 | – | 56% |
| Stan Van Gundy | 1994–1995 | 13–14 | 7–11 | – | 48% |
| Dick Bennett | 1995–2000 | 93–69 | 39–45 | – | 57% |
| Brad Soderberg | 2000–2001 | 16–10 | 9–7 | – | 62% |
| Bo Ryan | 2001–2015 | 364–130 | 172–68 | 4 | 74% |
| Greg Gard | 2015–now | 186–107 | 104–70 | 2 | 65% |
Wisconsin Men’s Basketball Coaching Staff 2024
The Wisconsin Badgers basketball team's coaching staff as of 2024 is listed below:
| Name | Title |
| Greg Gard | Head Coach |
| Joe Krabbenhoft | Associate Head Coach |
| Lance Randall | Assistant Coach |
| Sharif Chambliss | Assistant Coach |
| Kirk Penney | Spl. Asst. Head Coach |
Associate Head Coach
In April of 2016, former Wisconsin standout Joe Krabbenhoft rejoined the team as an assistant coach to head coach Greg Gard. In June 2022, Krabbenhoft received an official promotion to associate head coach. Krabbenhoft became the Badger bench coach for the seventh time in the 2022–2023 season.
In his three seasons as Wisconsin's coach, Krabbenhoft has assisted in guiding the Badgers to two Big Ten regular season titles, the most recent coming in 2021–2022. Throughout his career, Krabbenhoft made 70 starts in 136 games for Wisconsin, helping the Badgers to a 100-36 record and four appearances in the NCAA tournament.
Assistant Coaches
Back in May 2021, a familiar face returned to the Badger family. Sharif Chambliss, a former Wisconsin star, joined as an assistant coach under the wing of head coach Greg Gard. In May 2024, Lance Randall joined Gard's staff as an assistant coach after stepping down as Saint Leo University men's basketball head coach.
Wisconsin Men's Basketball Support Staff 2024
The Wisconsin Badgers basketball team's support staff is listed below as of 2024:
| Name | Title |
| Jim Snider | Strength and Conditioning |
| Brent Neuharth | Athletic Trainer |
| Andrew Van Handel | Video Coordinator |
| Isaac Wodajo | Director of Recruiting and Scouting |
| Marc VandeWettering | Chief of Staff, Basketball Operations |
| Lindsay Lovelace | Asst. Director of Basketball Operations |
| Eli Wilke | Graduate Manager |
| Erik Role | Creative |
FAQ's On Wisconsin basketball coach
A. Greg Gard has been the head coach since the 2015–2016 season.
A. Greg Gard has won the Big Ten Coach of the Year award twice, in 2020 and 2022.
A. Former Wisconsin standout Joe Krabbenhoft is the Associate Head Coach as of 2024.
A. Joe Krabbenhoft has assisted in winning two Big Ten regular season titles, with the most recent in 2021–2022.
A. Isaac Wodajo is the Director of Recruiting and Scouting for Wisconsin men's basketball in 2024.
