Wisconsin Lutheran coach Ryan Walz was named the state high school boys basketball coach of the year by the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association on April 23.
"It's cool because it's your peers who are making that decision, and they respect what you did during the year and they know how hard it is, and so it means a little bit more when it comes from your peers," Walz told the Journal Sentinel.
Walz guided the Vikings to a second 30-0 season in the past three years, culminating in a third straight WIAA state title in March. Wisconsin Lutheran has gone 88-2 over the past three seasons. This is Walz's second straight year being named boys coach of the year by the WBCA.
When the news of this latest honor was shared with him by an assistant coach, Walz said his first thought was of all the assistants and youth level coaches whose work contributed to the Vikings' success in recent years.
"From the varsity guys all the way down to JV and the freshmen guys and all the great coaching that we've got in our program right now, and how appreciative I am of them and the work that they put in," Walz said. "It almost should be like a program coaching award, just because of all the work that those guys put in, and it's never just one guy."
Wisconsin Lutheran's Zavier Zens (23) breaks around Madison Memorial's Cole Slack (5) during the WIAA Division 1 boys state championship basketball game on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.Wisconsin Lutheran's Jamail Sewell (32) elevates for two against Madison Memorial during the WIAA Division 1 boys state championship basketball game on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.Wisconsin Lutheran's Riley Walz (2) tries for three against Madison Memorial during the WIAA Division 1 boys state championship basketball game on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.Wisconsin Lutheran's Kager Knueppel (1) is blocked by Madison Memorial's Andrew Braun (11) during the WIAA Division 1 boys state championship basketball game on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.Wisconsin Lutheran students cheer on their team against Madison Memorial during the WIAA Division 1 boys state championship basketball game on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.Madison Memorial's Caleb Liggon (4) steals a pass from Wisconsin Lutheran's Zavier Zens (23) during the WIAA Division 1 boys state championship basketball game on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.Wisconsin Lutheran's Jamail Sewell (32) is fouled under the hoop during the WIAA Division 1 boys state championship basketball game against Madison Memorial on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.Wisconsin Lutheran's Jamail Sewell (32) shoots from the line against Madison Memorial during the WIAA Division 1 boys state championship basketball game on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.Madison Memorial's Kimyora Cross Jr (32) elevates for two against Wisconsin Lutheran during the WIAA Division 1 boys state championship basketball game on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.Wisconsin Lutheran's Kendall Newman (24) breaks for the paint against Madison Memorial during the WIAA Division 1 boys state championship basketball game on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.Madison Memorial's Lavonte Johnson (15) grabs a rebound from Wisconsin Lutheran's Kager Knueppel (1) during the WIAA Division 1 boys state championship basketball game on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.Wisconsin Lutheran's Kager Knueppel (1) breaks past Madison Memorial's Lavonte Johnson (15) during the WIAA Division 1 boys state championship basketball game on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.Wisconsin Lutheran's Zavier Zens (23) elevates for three over Madison Memorial's Cole Slack (5) during the WIAA Division 1 boys state championship basketball game on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.Madison Memorial students cheer for their team during the WIAA Division 1 boys state championship basketball game against Wisconsin Lutheran on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.1 / 14Wisconsin Lutheran vs. Madison Memorial in WIAA D1 boys basketball state championshipWisconsin Lutheran's Zavier Zens (23) breaks around Madison Memorial's Cole Slack (5) during the WIAA Division 1 boys state championship basketball game on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.1 / 14Wisconsin Lutheran vs. Madison Memorial in WIAA D1 boys basketball state championshipWisconsin Lutheran's Zavier Zens (23) breaks around Madison Memorial's Cole Slack (5) during the WIAA Division 1 boys state championship basketball game on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.2 / 14Wisconsin Lutheran vs. Madison Memorial in WIAA D1 boys basketball state championshipWisconsin Lutheran's Jamail Sewell (32) elevates for two against Madison Memorial during the WIAA Division 1 boys state championship basketball game on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.3 / 14Wisconsin Lutheran vs. Madison Memorial in WIAA D1 boys basketball state championshipWisconsin Lutheran's Riley Walz (2) tries for three against Madison Memorial during the WIAA Division 1 boys state championship basketball game on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.4 / 14Wisconsin Lutheran vs. Madison Memorial in WIAA D1 boys basketball state championshipWisconsin Lutheran's Kager Knueppel (1) is blocked by Madison Memorial's Andrew Braun (11) during the WIAA Division 1 boys state championship basketball game on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.5 / 14Wisconsin Lutheran vs. Madison Memorial in WIAA D1 boys basketball state championshipWisconsin Lutheran students cheer on their team against Madison Memorial during the WIAA Division 1 boys state championship basketball game on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.6 / 14Wisconsin Lutheran vs. Madison Memorial in WIAA D1 boys basketball state championshipMadison Memorial's Caleb Liggon (4) steals a pass from Wisconsin Lutheran's Zavier Zens (23) during the WIAA Division 1 boys state championship basketball game on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.7 / 14Wisconsin Lutheran vs. Madison Memorial in WIAA D1 boys basketball state championshipWisconsin Lutheran's Jamail Sewell (32) is fouled under the hoop during the WIAA Division 1 boys state championship basketball game against Madison Memorial on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.8 / 14Wisconsin Lutheran vs. Madison Memorial in WIAA D1 boys basketball state championshipWisconsin Lutheran's Jamail Sewell (32) shoots from the line against Madison Memorial during the WIAA Division 1 boys state championship basketball game on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.9 / 14Wisconsin Lutheran vs. Madison Memorial in WIAA D1 boys basketball state championshipMadison Memorial's Kimyora Cross Jr (32) elevates for two against Wisconsin Lutheran during the WIAA Division 1 boys state championship basketball game on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.10 / 14Wisconsin Lutheran vs. Madison Memorial in WIAA D1 boys basketball state championshipWisconsin Lutheran's Kendall Newman (24) breaks for the paint against Madison Memorial during the WIAA Division 1 boys state championship basketball game on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.11 / 14Wisconsin Lutheran vs. Madison Memorial in WIAA D1 boys basketball state championshipMadison Memorial's Lavonte Johnson (15) grabs a rebound from Wisconsin Lutheran's Kager Knueppel (1) during the WIAA Division 1 boys state championship basketball game on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.12 / 14Wisconsin Lutheran vs. Madison Memorial in WIAA D1 boys basketball state championshipWisconsin Lutheran's Kager Knueppel (1) breaks past Madison Memorial's Lavonte Johnson (15) during the WIAA Division 1 boys state championship basketball game on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.13 / 14Wisconsin Lutheran vs. Madison Memorial in WIAA D1 boys basketball state championshipWisconsin Lutheran's Zavier Zens (23) elevates for three over Madison Memorial's Cole Slack (5) during the WIAA Division 1 boys state championship basketball game on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.14 / 14Wisconsin Lutheran vs. Madison Memorial in WIAA D1 boys basketball state championshipMadison Memorial students cheer for their team during the WIAA Division 1 boys state championship basketball game against Wisconsin Lutheran on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.An innate desire to succeed and see athletes under their guidance achieve all they desire to are what Walz said keep him and his staff continuing to push their program to new heights.
"Winning doesn't take that away. I think that's something that you're always driving and driving and driving yourself towards excellence," Walz said.
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"I never wanted to screw it up for the kids. I always want it to be a situation where they make the plays, they win the games because they're prepared and they know what they're doing and they're confident in each other, they trust each other and they play basketball the right way," Walz said.
Also recognized by the WBCA among Milwaukee-area coaches were three other high school and college coaches. Brookfield East boys coach Joe Rux received the D1 coaching achievement award. The Spartans went 22-6 and reached their WIAA D1 sectional final before falling to De Pere. Milwaukee School of Engineering coach Kevin Hurd won the college D3 men's private school coach of the year award. The Raiders had a 19-8 season and reached the semifinal round of the NACC Tournament. Randy Casey of Milwaukee Area Technical College won the junior college men's coach of the year award after a 31-5 season leading to an NJCAA Division II quarterfinal appearance.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association names state's top coaches