Wisconsin basketball officially announced former Badger sharpshooter Kirk Penney’s new role on Greg Gard’s staff as ‘special assistant to the head coach’ on Friday.
We knew this news was coming, as head coach Greg Gard recently explained Penney’s contributions throughout the 2023-24 season and his desire to expand his role on the team.
Related: An updated list of Wisconsin basketball transfer portal targets.
Penney returned to the Badgers program as a special assistant in November 2023. Previously, he was an All-Big Ten guard for the Badgers from 1999 to 2003 and one of the most lethal three-point shooters in program history.
O release cites Penney’s return as one of the driving forces behind the 2023-24 team averaging 74.7 points per game, the program’s highest scoring average in 30 years.
“I’m happy to have Kirk on our team, and the work he’s done to help evolve and improve our offense has been evident,” Gard said in Friday’s statement. “Not only has our offensive efficiency improved drastically, but individually our players have seen results and improved productivity. I am confident that we are just scratching the surface of how we can continue to grow.”
Wisconsin is currently dealing with a roster shakeup that has seen point guard Chucky Hepburn and guard AJ Storr enter the transfer portal. The team is working hard to replace its production and reshape expectations for 2024-25.
Penney’s presence last season was clearly positive, as the team’s offensive attack was revolutionized. The hope is that the presence will help move forward as the program navigates the current era of college basketball.
For more on Wisconsin basketball’s ongoing transfer portal activity, check out our ongoing tracker of Badgers transfer portal visits and goals.
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