What we know about Wisconsin’s search for next AD, Chris McIntosh’s replacement
One month after Chris McIntosh's resignation to take a job with the Big Ten, here's what we know about Wisconsin's search for his successor.
MADISON – One month after Chris McIntosh’s resignation as the Wisconsin Badgers ’ athletic director, fewer question marks loom about the search for his replacement. UW announced a search firm, committee and timeline for a hire on May 12, roughly four weeks after McIntosh’s resignation to become the Big Ten's deputy commissioner for strategy . Interim AD Marcus Sedberry spoke with reporters on April 23 as well.
Here is what we know (and don’t know) at this point as the Badgers prepare to make only their third hire of an athletic director in three-plus decades: Who is on Wisconsin 's search committee? UW’s nine-person search committee includes some accomplished alumni and former UW athletes, including Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard, Dallas Mavericks co-interim GM Michael Finley and New Jersey Devils director of player development Meghan Duggan. Chair: Lauren Bishop (UW professor, faculty athletics representative) Chris Ballard (Indianapolis Colts GM, former UW football player) Rob Cramer (UW vice chancellor for finance and administration, UW alum) Meghan Duggan (New Jersey Devils director of player development, former UW hockey player) Michael Finley (Dallas Mavericks co-interim GM, former UW basketball player) Elzie Higginbottom (president of East Lake Management & Development Corp.
, former UW track and field athlete) Marija Pientka (UW senior associate athletic director for sports administration, former UW women’s tennis athlete) Michael Shannon (co-founder and former chairman/CEO of KSL Capital Partners, UW alum) William Smith (current UW men’s soccer player, president of UW’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee) What is Wisconsin's timeline for hiring an athletic director? Marcus Sedberry might not be the interim AD for long. UW expects McIntosh’s replacement to begin work this summer, per the press release that announced the search committee and firm.
If the university stays on schedule, the Badgers would theoretically have McIntosh’s long-term replacement in time for the 2026 football season – Luke Fickell’s fourth at the helm in Madison. Fickell’s teams went 10-17 in Big Ten games in his first three seasons. Which search firm is working with Wisconsin?
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