Green Bay Phoenix surprisingly fired their head coach a few weeks ago. Linc Darner seemed like a coach that was pushing the program in the right direction. Trying to find a coach during a pandemic is not an easy task to accomplish, and finding one that will draw eyeballs is even harder. The Phoenix were able to do just that though. Yesterday, Green Bay announced that they’re hiring Will Ryan, the son of former Hall of Fame coach and Wisconsin coaching legend Bo Ryan. Coaches’ sons are not always the right answer, but this is the most notable coach for Green Bay in some time.

The cool thing about Ryan is that nepotism isn’t exactly there. There is so much nepotism in the coaching world that sons and daughters of coaches get jobs that they probably do not deserve. Ryan did work for his dad but as a video coordinator, an entry-level job, for a coach. He moved on to work for North Dakota State, Ohio as an assistant then spent last year as a head coach for Wheeling University in West Virginia. This is a guy who paid his dues as a coach and is now ready for the big time.

What will be interesting to see with Ryan and the team he has with Green Bay is what their offense looks like next season. For those that do not know, the Phoenix are a run and gun team who shoot a ton of threes and play virtually no defense. Knowing his father, that will likely change under Will Ryan. The pace will likely be a bit slower and more defense will be added to the mix. It is unknown if the younger Ryan coaches like his pop and instructs a swing offense that eats up clock.

This is a home run for Green Bay. Assuming that most Green Bay fans are also Badgers fans, there will be a lot of appreciation for this hire. Greg Gard’s seat is ice cold and likely hasn’t been colder, but if he shows signs of struggle and Ryan starts succeeding in Green Bay, the noise for the son to follow in his father’s footsteps will get loud.

Charlie.