The last time an iconic Wisconsin men's basketball head coach attempted to name his own successor, it ended in disaster. When Dick Bennett retired abruptly three games into the 2000-01 season, essentially forcing Pat Richter to promote Brad Soderberg as the interim head coach, the Badgers exited the NCAA tournament with their tails tucked between their legs.
Stymied in his first attempt to hand the job over to his right-hand man, Bo Ryan ignored precedent and went a similar route as Bennett in one final wily endeavor as the Wisconsin head coach.
With it's finality, Ryan's unexpected announcement that he will not coach another game for the Badgers elicited an even bigger flood of reflection on the golden age of Wisconsin basketball than his proposed retirement this past summer.