Green Bay fires Will Ryan as coach after 11th straight loss

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay fired coachWill Ryan on Tuesday, three days after the Phoenix suffered their11th consecutive loss.

Ryan, the son of former Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan, posted a 15-61record in 2 1/2 seasons. Freddie Owens, who had been an assistantcoach on Ryan’s staff, will be interim head coach for the rest ofthe season.

“UW-Green Bay is committed to continuing its legacy as anoutstanding Division I athletics program in the future, and Phoenixmen’s basketball needs to help lead the way as we work to elevateall of our programs and be a shining light for this region andbeyond,” athletic director Josh Moon said in a news releaseannouncing the move.

Moon thanked Ryan and his family for their contributions to theprogram and said that “we wish him all the best in his futureendeavors.”

Stadium first reported Ryan’s firing.

Green Bay dropped to 2-19 overall and 1-9 in the Horizon Leagueon Saturday with a 72-38 home loss to Robert Morris.

Ryan was hired by Green Bay after going 14-13 in his lone seasonas the head coach at Division II program Wheeling (West Virginia).Green Bay went 8-17 in Ryan’s debut season and finished 5-25 lastyear.

Ryan had taken over for Linc Darner, who went 92-80 and posted awinning record in four of his five seasons.