Banasik named to WBCA Hall of Fame

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Andy Banasik

Prairie du Chien District Administrator and Athletic Director Andy Banasik has been named as a member of the 2020 Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Hall of Fame as a high school coach. The 2020 Hall of Fame Induction will be held at the Glacier Canyon Lodge of the Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells on Aug. 1.

The following is a biography of Banasik’s coaching career.

Andy Banasik graduated from Prairie du Chien High School in 1986. At Prairie du Chien High School, Andy participated in cross-country, football, basketball, track, and baseball. The Prairie du Chien athletic teams made it to the 1985 WIAA football final and the basketball teams made it to the Class B state championship in basketball in 1985 and 1986 only to fall short in each WIAA state championship game.

Upon graduation from Prairie du Chien High School, Andy attended the University of Wisconsin-Platteville to study Physical Education/Health. Andy was a four-year member of the UWP basketball team, winning two WSUC conference titles under coach Bo Ryan-College Basketball Hall of Famer.

Andy graduated from UW-Platteville in December of 1990, and started his teaching in the spring of 1990 at Queen of Peace Grade School in Madison. He took his first high school teaching/head coaching position in the fall of 1990 at Marshfield Columbus High School under the legendary Walt Kroll. In his first year as a head basketball coach, Marshfield Columbus qualified for the WISAA Division 2 state tournament. Upon completing two years at Marshfield Columbus, Andy returned to his hometown of Prairie du Chien and took over as the head basketball coach/physical education teacher in 1992-93. He remained the head basketball coach during his move to assistant principal/athletic director in 1997. In 2002, he became the principal/athletic director/head boys’ basketball coach until 2020. His teams won 10 conference championships, five regional championships, and qualified for the WIAA Division 3 state tournament in 2016. His overall record is 404-263.

In 1990, Andy married Melissa and they have been married 30 years. They have four children: Morgan, Mackenzie, Nathan, and Macey. Andy wants to give a massive shout-out to his wife, Melissa, for all the tremendous support for him as a coach, principal and athletic director. Melissa has been loyal, selfless and compassionate while being the driving force raising their four children. He would want to thank his children for their support, as he is sure it wasn’t easy for his kids with him being a high school principal and coach.

Andy was blessed and very fortunate to have the opportunity to coach back in his hometown. Many people thought coaching in your hometown would be a job killer, but through the tremendous support of his many assistant coaches (Jan Waller, 25 years), administrators, teachers and the support of the community, the basketball program became a positive source for the community. He wants to also say “thanks” to all the players for their hard work and commitment to Prairie du Chien basketball. He wouldn’t be in the WBCA Hall of Fame without the student-athletes who have helped make this program successful on and off the court.

Some of Andy’s proudest moments were all the great relationships developed at Prairie du Chien and Marshfield Columbus during this 29-year career and sharing the “love of the game” with his children. 

“It was an excellent opportunity to coach my kids and watch the oldest three play at the Kohl Center during their high school careers,” said Andy.

Andy would like to thank the WBCA for this tremendous honor and all the great things they do for basketball in the state of Wisconsin.

Congratulations from the WBCA as Andy is welcomed into their 2020 Hall of Fame as a high school coach.

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