Wisconsin’s all-time leading scorer is back on the Badgers bench. Alando Tucker returns to the Wisconsin basketball program as an interim assistant coach, head coach Greg Gard announced Tuesday. Tucker will serve in this role for the 2019-20 season, filling the position of assistant coach Howard Moore, who is on medical leave.
“I never wanted to join the Wisconsin coaching staff under circumstances like this, and my thoughts and prayers are with Howard and his family and will continue to be all season,” Tucker said. “Howard and his family are very close friends of our family and his absence on the UW bench will be immense. He is the ultimate Badger and a tremendous coach. I owe it to him and my alma mater to do my best to coach up to his standard. I’m looking forward to working with our team and continue the strong legacy that guys like Howard have helped build.”
“First off, the hearts of the entire Wisconsin basketball family are with Howard and his family right now,” Gard said. “We think about him daily and will continue to do so during the entire season. He has helped shape this program for more than 25 years and he will be missed in our huddle this year.
“We’re thankful to have someone like Alando able to step into this role. His familiarity with the program and our players, combined with his incredible basketball experience and energy will be a great fit. No one person can fill Howard’s spot on our bench, but knowing how close he and Alando are as friends, I’m sure Alando will work as hard as possible to meet that level.”
Tucker moves to the men’s basketball staff after serving as UW’s Director of Student-Athlete Engagement since February of 2018. Tucker worked with incoming student-athletes and their families to assist in the acclimation to life at UW and the Madison community.
A first round selection in the 2007 NBA Draft, Tucker played professionally for 10 years, including three seasons in the NBA with the Phoenix Suns and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
UW’s all-time leading scorer with 2,217 points, Tucker was a consensus first-team All-American as a senior in 2007. Tucker also earned 2007 Big Ten Player of the Year and was a finalist for every national player of the year award, winning the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award. A two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection, Tucker finished his career ranked ninth in Big Ten history in career points and led the Badgers to a career record of 99-35, including a then-school record 30 wins in 2006-07.
A native of Lockport, Illinois, Tucker earned his bachelor of science degree in history from Wisconsin in 2007. Tucker and his wife, Krystal, have two sons, Amir and Asaiah.
https://uwbadgers.com/news/2019/7/30/mens-basketball-tucker-joins-wisconsin-coaching-staff.aspx
