Dec. 22--Howard Moore, a former Wisconsin player and assistant, has joined interim head coach Greg Gard's staff, the team announced Tuesday.
Moore last coached in 2014 at Illinois-Chicago, where he was for five seasons. He was an assistant on Bo Ryan's staff from 2005-10.
Ryan retired last week after 14 seasons in Madison, Wis., leaving the job to Gard.
"Given the timing and the situation, bringing in Howard is a home run for our program and players," Gard said in a statement. "To have the ability to bring in someone with his experience and knowledge of the way we do things is a perfect fit and win-win. He was a part of our championship team in 2008 and he has a passion for UW that is unparalleled. He loved his experience here and has a deep affection for this place and its people. We're extremely fortunate to have someone like Howard available and eager to join our staff."
When Moore coached at Wisconsin, the Badgers made five-straight trips to the NCAA tournament.
He then moved on to UIC, where the Flames won 18 games for the first time in six seasons and recorded the nation's 12th-best turnaround from the previous season.
The Flames released Moore after a 10-24 record in 2014-15. He has been working as an analyst at the Big Ten Network.
Moore, driving from Chicago to Wisconsin, told the Tribune, "It means a lot. It's not about me. It's about what I can hopefully bring to the table to help Wisconsin basketball stay on the path it's on and stay at the top of the Big Ten."
He said he gained helpful insight from being a head coach at UIC that will help him in his next stint as an assistant.
"Now I'm better than when I left," he said. "I know I didn't light up the world at UIC but I've gained experience I would have never received had remained assistant coach this whole time. Five years gives me a perspective to help."
