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WILKES GRADUATE BO RYAN INDUCTED INTO PENNSYLVANIA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

10/25/2011 3:10:00 PM

WILKES GRADUATE BO RYAN INDUCTED INTO PENNSYLVANIA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

TREVOSE, PA – Wilkes College graduate and University of Wisconsin head men's basketball coach Bo Ryan was inducted into the 49th annual Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame Saturday with a special ceremony held at the Radisson Hotel by the Bucks County Chapter. Wilkes head mentor Jerry Rickrode, his staff, and several current Colonel players made the trip to support Ryan at the ceremony.

“To be able to attend Coach Bo Ryan's induction into the Pennsylvania Hall of Fame was a very special experience,” said Rickrode. “I would like to thank Wilkes University for making the experience possible.”

A Chester, Pa. native Bo Ryan was a three-sport standout at Chester High School from 1962 to 1965 before attending Wilkes College as a four-year starter on the Colonels basketball team.

Following graduation, Ryan started as a prep coach in Pennsylvania before moving onto the college ranks taking the head coaching position at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville from 1984 to 1989. Owner of the best win percentage in Division III history (.822), he won four National Championships and four National Coach of the Year Awards while at Wisconsin-Platteville.

He then moved onto the University of Wisconsin in 2001 where he remains the head mentor of the Badgers today. Ryan's teams have captured five Big Ten Championships while Ryan has been honored with two Big Ten Coach of the Year honors. With the best win percentage in Big Ten history, Ryan has twice been named Division I National Coach of the Year.

Ryan has also coached at the professional level serving on three USA Basketball Team staffs, capturing two gold medals and one bronze.

“Bo is not only one of the most outstanding coaches in the history of college basketball, he is also a super guy who has been very loyal to myself and our program here at Wilkes,” added Rickrode.

The complete list of inductees into this year's Hall of Fame class can be found below.

Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2011
Horace Ashenfelter – Olympic Gold Medalist
Richard Bedesem – Football Coach
Pete Carill – Basketball Coach and Player
Lou Cecconi – Football, Basketball, and Baseball Player
Ray Feick – Track and Field Athlete
Patti Hower – Basketball Coach
Charles Mehelich – NFL and NCAA Football Player
Doug Overton – NBA and NCAA Basketball Player
Vince Papale – NFL Football Player
Mike Pettine – Football Coach
Bo Ryan – Basketball Coach
Blair Thomas – NFL and NCAA Football Player
Troy Vincent – NFL and NCAA Football Player

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