According to multiple reports, Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh is departing the school for a job at the Big Ten office.
McIntosh had been Wisconsin’s AD since 2021, following in the footsteps of Badgers icon Barry Alvarez. During his tenure as chair, he made some noteworthy changes, the most notable of which was the recruitment of Luke Fickell to lead the football program in November 2022.
According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, McIntosh is departing to take position as the Big Ten’s deputy commissioner for strategy.
McIntosh’s resignation is important news. Specifically, it creates a major subplot for Wisconsin’s upcoming football season. The incoming athletic director will not have the same ties to Fickell, which may increase the pressure on the fifth-year coach. That story will dominate headlines as Wisconsin announces its new appointment and the Badgers attempt to return to their first bowl game since 2023.
