Wisconsin is in the middle of a search for a new athletic director after Chris McIntosh left for a position in the Big Ten. The school set up a search team and has brought in some of the who's who of Badger athletics to be part of it. Yet, there was one name that was noticeably not on the list: Barry Alvarez.
Evan Cohen of ESPN Radio was openly frustrated about it and even said that Wisconsin football has never been good without including Alvarez in one way or another. However, Alvarez cleared the air today on ESPN Madison, sharing that he doesn't have a problem being excluded from the committee.
Alvarez even went on to say that he looked at the list of names on the committee and was pleased with the list. He ultimately ended where he always does, that the Badger athletic director job is a "Great job."
“I don’t have a problem. I don’t have to be on the committee… it’s a GREAT JOB.”
— ESPN Madison (@ESPNMadison) May 29, 2026
🎙️ Barry Alvarez on not being included in the search committee for the #Badgers’ next athletic director. pic.twitter.com/SxA7P9kzF2
Barry Alvarez puts any speculation that he was frustrated about exclusion from Wisconsin AD search committee to bed
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Alvarez hasn't been included in any part of this process, which is a major change from the last time Wisconsin was looking for an athletic director. Alvarez was the central and primary voice for the installation of Chris McIntosh into the position. A former player and a protege of Alvarez. McIntosh's tenure has been full of disdain from Badger fans.
To be fair, a due process was conducted by Wisconsin, and there were over 20 people who applied for the position, and the decision wasn't made by Alvarez. Rebecca Black (the Chancellor at the time) made the hire, and the decision was approved by the Board of Regents. Yet, it helped that Alvarez wanted to see McIntosh hired to replace him.
This time, Alvarez isn't being consulted, and fans have various opinions on that. Yet the process is moving along, and just the other day, the search committee said they are entering phase 2. Phase 1 was listening to stakeholders (coaches, players, donors, alumni, etc. The current plan is that the new athletic director will start sometime this summer.
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