The Wisconsin Badgers hired Brad Davison as special assistant to head coach Greg Gard on Sept. 29th, replacing Kirk Penney, who will depart the team to spend time with his family in New Zealand, a major shake-up to Wisconsin basketball’s coaching staff.
Davison, a familiar face within the program, was a key player for the Badgers from 2017-2022. He’ll replace Penney, who resigned after holding the special assistant role the last two years.
Penney had a tremendous impact on the program, redefining the Badgers’ offensive structure. He was central in embedding a faster pace of play, tweaking Wisconsin’s traditional methodically slow offense. He succeeded heavily in establishing this new offense, leading the Badgers to average 80.9 points per game in the 2024-2025 season.
During Penney’s two years with the Badgers, Wisconsin went 49-23 and averaged 80.9 points per game last season, their most in over 50 years. Wisconsin rode their offensive production to back-to-back Big Ten Tournament Championship game appearances en route to NCAA Tournament games.
After playing for Wisconsin, Davison played professionally in Lithuania and Spain. With his youth and relatability, alongside his basketball smarts, he brings several options to the table on how he can help the Badgers achieve another tournament appearance this season.
One of only five players in Badgers history to have 1,500 points, 500 rebounds and 300 assists, Davison was a remarkable player for Wisconsin. This, along with his hustle and passion, made him a fan favorite and put him among the most memorable Badgers of this century.
“He was the heart and soul of our program while he played here," head coach Greg Gard said. “He has a terrific basketball mind, one of the best leaders I’ve ever coached and we know we are adding someone who will dedicate every ounce to this team.”
Davison attended his first practice on Thursday, participating in drills to get a taste of Wisconsin basketball. He told reporters at practice he’s excited to be back.
“This is a special place that means the world to me,” Davison said. “I can't wait to serve this program and to continue to raise the high standard of Wisconsin Basketball.”
Without Penney, who left a huge footprint on the program, Wisconsin will have to endure a huge transition.
“Yeah, it's going to look different. It's not going to be the same. I mean, Kirk had his own unique skill set and obviously helped us a lot with the offensive stuff and helped me in terms of what my vision was,” Gard said.
But Gard is ready for Davison to make a positive impact of his own.
“Brad brings a different perspective as a player. I think he can help us in a lot of ways, by helping with communication with players and relationships with players,” Gard said. “I think he’ll be dynamite on the road recruiting. He’s got a phenomenal personality, a phenomenal eye for talent. He’s a terrific communicator, and he’s full of energy.”
