Wisconsin AD Chris McIntosh stepping down for Big Ten role

McIntosh hired Luke Fickell in 2022 after firing Paul Chryst and bypassing Jim Leonhard.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 1:10am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented college football game, with overlapping planes of deep red, navy blue, and forest green, conveying the complex dynamics surrounding Wisconsin's athletic department leadership change.The departure of Wisconsin's athletic director Chris McIntosh represents a pivotal leadership shift for the Badgers' sports programs.Madison Today

Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh is reportedly stepping down from his role to join the Big Ten Conference in a newly created deputy commissioner position, according to reports. McIntosh, considered a 'true Badger' who played football at Wisconsin, became athletic director in 2021 after the retirement of Barry Alvarez. His decision to fire head coach Paul Chryst and hire Luke Fickell instead of promoting interim coach Jim Leonhard has drawn scrutiny, as the Badgers are 16-21 under Fickell's leadership.

Why it matters

McIntosh's departure marks a significant leadership change for the Wisconsin athletic department, which has faced challenges under his tenure, including the controversial firing of Paul Chryst and the underwhelming start to the Luke Fickell era. His move to the Big Ten Conference also represents a high-profile promotion, signaling his growing influence within the league.

The details

According to reports, Chris McIntosh plans to leave his role as Wisconsin's athletic director to join the Big Ten Conference in a newly created deputy commissioner position. McIntosh, a former Badgers football player, became athletic director in 2021 after the retirement of Barry Alvarez. His decision to fire head coach Paul Chryst and hire Luke Fickell instead of promoting interim coach Jim Leonhard has drawn scrutiny, as the Badgers have struggled to a 16-21 record under Fickell's leadership.

  • McIntosh became Wisconsin's athletic director in July 2021.
  • In 2022, McIntosh fired head coach Paul Chryst and hired Luke Fickell as the new Badgers head coach.

The players

Chris McIntosh

The current athletic director of the University of Wisconsin, who is reportedly stepping down to take a position with the Big Ten Conference as a deputy commissioner.

Paul Chryst

The former head football coach of the University of Wisconsin, who was fired by McIntosh in 2022.

Jim Leonhard

The interim head football coach of the University of Wisconsin in 2022, who was bypassed by McIntosh in favor of hiring Luke Fickell.

Luke Fickell

The current head football coach of the University of Wisconsin, hired by McIntosh in 2022 after he fired Paul Chryst.

Barry Alvarez

The former athletic director of the University of Wisconsin, who retired in 2021, paving the way for McIntosh to become the new AD.

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What’s next

The University of Wisconsin will need to begin the process of hiring a new athletic director to replace Chris McIntosh, who is departing for a role with the Big Ten Conference.

The takeaway

McIntosh's departure from Wisconsin represents a significant leadership change for the athletic department, which has faced challenges during his tenure, including the controversial firing of Paul Chryst and the underwhelming start to the Luke Fickell era as head football coach. His move to the Big Ten Conference also signals his growing influence within the league, but leaves the Badgers in search of a new athletic director to guide the program forward.