For basketball fans, U-W Madison men's coach Bo Ryan is a familiar face. The Wisconsin Department of Tourism has contracted with Ryan to make sure his image is associated with fun times in the Badger state.
Department of Tourism Secretary Stephanie Klett talks about the new summer Tourism ad campaign designed to bring travelers to Wisconsin....
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"....you can see the ad right now at travelwisconsin.com or by going to the Travel Wisconsin You Tube page. But if you watch the Big 10 conference or the upcoming NCAA tournament, we're going to have his ad airing at those times too, He was an absolute joy to work with and if you like coach Bo Ryan at all, you will like this ad...."
With Ryan's squad likely to make the NCAA tournament, Klett thinks travelers will see a successful coach promoting the many attractions in Wisconsin. Among the activities Ryan promotes by doing is ziplining, go-karting and other activities. Klett admits the 67 year old Ryan didn't ride the top of the pyramid at the Tommy Bartlett Water-ski show, though the magic of video production makes it look like he did....
".....I will tell you that everything else he did do, but we couldn't risk him being on top of that pyramid, no. Seeing him on a 'green screen' for that was really delightful..."
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Ryan is one of the most well-known coaches in the nation and has coached at UW-Platteville and UW-Milwaukee before taking over at Madison.
Klett says with the men's basketball program likely to make the upcoming NCAA tournament, Ryan's ad promoting the fun of Wisconsin will be seen by many potential travelers. Klett says travelwisconsin.com also created it's own bracket challenge for the upcoming tournament.