Wisconsin athletic director leaving for job in Big Ten office

Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh is leaving the school for a position in the Big Ten office, according to multiple reports.

McIntosh had been Wisconsin’s AD since 2021, when he took over for Badgers legend Barry Alvarez. He made significant moves during his time leading the department, headlined by the hire of Luke Fickell to take over the football program in November 2022.

Advertisement

According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, McIntosh is leaving to become the Big Ten’s deputy commissioner for strategy.

McIntosh’s departure is significant news. Specifically, it creates a major subplot for Wisconsin’s upcoming football season. The next athletic director won’t have the same ties to Fickell, which could heighten the pressure on the fifth-year coach. That storyline will lead headlines as Wisconsin makes its new hire and as the Badgers work to return to their first bowl game since 2023.