Well, some Wisconsin Badgers fans got their wish, and plenty of fans let it be known on X.
On Sunday, Chris McIntosh, the now-former athletic director at Wisconsin, accepted a position as the Big Ten Conference's Deputy Commissioner of Strategy. In doing so, the Wisconsin Badgers now must select their third athletic director since the start of this decade.
During McIntosh’s tenure, there were successes in volleyball and women’s hockey, as well as the revitalization of the men’s hockey program. His decisions regarding the football team became a noted aspect of his time at Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Badgers fans won’t be missing Chris McIntosh anytime soon.
When news broke that McIntosh was leaving immediately, the UW athletic department posted this graphic.
A leader, visionary and true Badger, congratulations to Chris McIntosh on getting the call to help shape the future of college athletics.
— Wisconsin Badgers (@UWBadgers) April 13, 2026
🔗 | https://t.co/PJFt7nX1Gp pic.twitter.com/emwn1xXCkk
That, of course, was followed by these responses from the Badger faithful.
“Visionary” pic.twitter.com/AEq7p25EGU
— Brian L (@mplsbadger) April 13, 2026
Tx for ignoring the NIL until it destroyed football, thanks for tearing down the track practice facility before they had a new one, tx for not even considering firing Mosley as she ran wbb into the ground; now UW is being sued, tx for wanting to toss those donor bricks.
— Tim Weisensel (@1TimothyA) April 13, 2026
A leader of destroying a football program yes
— Biz (@db10er) April 13, 2026
Mnookin and McIntosh, the visionaries
— WarDamnResearcher🦅🦡🧀 (@WarDamnResearch) April 13, 2026
circa 2026 pic.twitter.com/qbcXbxHPLn
After being selected as the new athletic director by then-chancellor Rebecca Blank in June 2021 to succeed Barry Alvarez, McIntosh watched volleyball win their first NCAA championship that year, and women’s hockey sustained excellence with three more NCAA titles. Not to mention that McIntosh was responsible for hiring two impressive hires: Mike Hastings in men’s hockey and Robin Pingeton in women’s basketball.
However, Badger football is the main financial engine for Wisconsin athletics. It was McIntosh who fired Paul Chryst, passed over Jim Leonhard, and hired outsider Luke Fickell to usher in a new era of Wisconsin football. That “era” has seen Fickell serenaded with “Fire Fickell” chants and a 17-21 overall record.
McIntosh’s departure not only leaves fans happy to see him go, but it leaves the athletic department in a vulnerable spot. Former Wisconsin broadcaster and current Cap Times contributor Mike Lucas bashed McIntosh for leaving Wisconsin at this time. Not only is Fickell staring down a major make-or-break 2026 season, but the university still has no current president or a UW system president. Lucas called it “running away from a challenge.”
We don’t know what the future holds not only for the Badger football program but also for the entire Wisconsin athletic department. One thing we do know is that there is a vocal section of Badgers fans who won’t miss Chris McIntosh anytime soon.
Add us as a preferred source on Google