Chris McIntosh drops massive news on a Sunday afternoon as he announces he is stepping down as the Wisconsin Athletic Director to pursue a new role for the Big Ten. It's a big change for the department. According to the latest reports, McIntosh is taking a role as the deputy commissioner for strategy at the Big Ten offices.
Wisconsin fans have been eager to see Chris McIntosh go since the football program has gone from bad to worse. He also had a poor showing with Marisa Moseley for the women's basketball program. However, it's hard to argue that he hasn't been successful in other sports outside of football. Wisconsin has seen women's hockey get championship after championship, women's volleyball run through deep tournament success, men's hockey is back, and more.
Chris McIntosh to step down as Wisconsin athletic director and take a role with the Big Ten offices
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This departure leaves the Wisconsin Badgers in search of a new Athletic Director for the first time since Barry Alvarez hand-selected Chris McIntosh in 2021. While there was a "national search" for the next Athletic Director for the Badgers, McIntosh had risen the ranks of the Badger athletic department and found his way as a favorite for Alvarez, as well as many others.
It helped that he was a homegrown Badger and that he had dreams and desires to restore the Badger football program to new heights. He even brought in an exciting hire (at the time) in Luke Fickell. The two became tied at the hip, and yet neither has been endearing themselves to fans lately.
This position seems to be a new position for the Big Ten, but one that will help the direction for the future of the Big Ten from Media, revenue, and business strategy to conference expansion and other partnerships. It may also have a hand in NIL policies and in navigating the ever-changing role.
McIntosh's success in this arena is actually second to none. He has been a trailblazer for this sort of thing, including the situation with Xavier Lucas, and has helped women's volleyball become successful in NIL, revenue, and countless other areas. This may be a better long-term role for the McIntosh, and it may end up helping the Badgers take a big next step.