Wisconsin's Luke Fickell says Chris McIntosh's departure is like losing a friend

MADISON – The success or failure of Chris McIntosh’s five-year run as Wisconsin’s athletic director will probably be tied to Luke Fickell ’s success. The hire of the football coach was McIntosh’s most important move. And when times got tough – Fickell has gone 17-21 during his first three seasons – McIntosh not only stood behind his coach by bringing him back for a fourth season, but he also boosted the financial resources to the program.

What we’re reminded of in the wake of McIntosh’s departure for a job in the Big Ten office is that the relationship between AD and coach was more than boss-employee. “Losing a friend is not easy,” Fickell said. Fickell spoke to reporters Tuesday, April 14, at Camp Randall Stadium after his team’s eighth spring practice.

The coach is the first university employee to speak about McIntosh’s departure, which became public April 12 and was officially announced April 13. Fickell said McIntosh told him of his impending departure last week. Marcus Sedberry , McIntosh’s deputy AD as well as the general manager for the football program, is the interim athletic director, Adding the interim role to Sedberry’s plate creates a ripple effect that could affect his GM duties depending on how long he serves as interim AD.

The good news for the football program is that McIntosh’s departure didn’t come in January, which is the height of the transfer portal or in December when Fickell and his staff were wrapping up its 2026 high school recruiting class. Those are especially busy times for college football general managers. “I think, selfishly speaking, it's a decent time for us,” Fickell said when asked about the impact McIntosh’s departure on the day-to-day operation of the football program.