Wisconsin clears Bo Ryan of misuse of resources during affair

— -- The University of Wisconsin conducted an investigation last year that cleared former basketball coach Bo Ryan of alleged misuse of school resources during an extramarital affair, school chancellor Rebecca Blank told the Wisconsin State Journal.

Blank released a statement to the State Journal on Saturday, saying the internal investigation was prompted by an email sent by the woman who was involved in the affair with Ryan.

Ryan, who retired abruptly in December, acknowledged the affair Saturday in a statement to ESPN's Andy Katz. Ryan said that the affair was "absolutely unrelated" to his retirement.

"My wife Kelly and I believed that the university's findings concluded this matter," Ryan said in the statement. "To be clear, this matter was absolutely unrelated to my retirement many months later. In fact, I timed my retirement intentionally to assure that Greg Gard got his hard-earned opportunity to coach the University of Wisconsin basketball team."

Blank told the State Journal that the woman sent the email to the university in February 2015. She also said that the school did not influence Ryan's decision to retire on Dec. 15, midway through his 15th season with the Badgers.

"The university determined on May 13, 2015, that Ryan did not utilize university resources during the course of the relationship in question," Blank told the paper. "The university concluded the issue was a private matter. Bo Ryan's resignation on Dec. 15, 2015, was entirely his decision."

Blank said that the woman sent the email to herself, Ryan and Wisconsin senior athletic department officials Walter Dickey, Terry Gawlik, and Bruce Van De Velde.

Related Stories

Man kills wife, 3 kids in mass shooting: Police

• Apr 23, 12:35 PM

Trump, NY AG resolve dispute over $175M bond

• Apr 22, 12:14 PM

OJ Simpson dies at 76

• Apr 11, 6:32 PM

The woman said in her email that she accompanied Ryan on multiple recruiting trips to locations such as Kansas City, Las Vegas, Chicago and Minneapolis, according to documents obtained by Deadspin, which was first to report the investigation Saturday.

In his statement Saturday, Ryan referred to the affair as a "mistake in my private life." He also said that he told the university about the affair.

"I had a relationship with a woman who had no connection to the University of Wisconsin," he said. "That relationship ended nearly 1 ½ years ago. I revealed this issue openly to the university, and encouraged them to review any activity to assure them that no university resources were misused."

Ryan, 68, is the winningest coach in Wisconsin history, with 364 wins over 14-plus seasons. Ryan coached the Badgers to the NCAA tournament every year of his tenure, entering this season. Before Ryan came to Madison, Wisconsin had been to the tournament seven times in school history.

Wisconsin won seven Big Ten titles under Ryan, and his .717 winning percentage (172-68) in conference play is the best in Big Ten history.

The Badgers are 20-10 this season and have gone 12-5 in Big Ten play under Gard, who was named as Ryan's interim replacement. Wisconsin concludes its regular season Sunday at No. 15 Purdue.