MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Athletics honored four individuals who were instrumental in the early days of the Kohl Center with the unveiling of a newly-designed Kohl Center Legends Walk on Oct. 17. The inaugural class includes Jane Albright (Head Coach, Women's Basketball, 1994-2003), Dick Bennett (Head Coach, Men's Basketball, 1996-2000), Jeff Sauer (Head Coach, Men's Hockey, 1982-2002) and Senator Herb Kohl (Lead Benefactor).
Jane Albright
Jane Albright served as the Badgers' head coach from 1994-2003, compiling a record of 161-107 in nine years, including four 20-win seasons. She guided UW to five NCAA tournament appearances, including two second-round showings. Wisconsin also qualified for the WNIT twice during Albright's tenure, finishing as the runners up in 1999 and champions in 2000. Albright was named the 1995 Big Ten Coach of the Year.
Dick Bennett
In five-plus seasons as the Wisconsin men's basketball coach, Dick Bennett led the Badgers to a record of 94-68 (.580). Bennett coached Wisconsin to three NCAA tournament appearances, including the 2000 Final Four. His teams won a then-school-record 22 games in 1999 and 2000. A 2012 inductee into the UW Athletics Hall of Fame, Bennett's teams led the Big Ten in scoring defense four times, placing in the top five nationally three times.
Herb Kohl
The Kohl Center is named for former U.S. Senator Herb Kohl (D-Wisconsin), a 1956 graduate of UW-Madison, who donated $25 million to the project in 1998. At the time, Kohl's gift was the single-largest private donation in University history. A businessman, politician and philanthropist, Kohl served as a U.S. Senator from 1989 to 2013. He was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007.
Jeff Sauer
The all-time winningest coach in UW athletics with 489 victories, the late Jeff Sauer directed the Wisconsin men's hockey team to two NCAA titles during his 20 years behind the bench. His teams recorded four 30-win seasons and won WCHA titles in 1990 and 2000. Inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, the UW Athletics Hall of Fame, winner of the NHL's Lester Patrick Award and the USA Hockey Distinguished Achievement Award, Sauer's contributions to hockey went well beyond his time as a Badger.
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