The Wisconsin Badgers Athletics community got some surprising news on Sunday evening, as Athletic Director Chris McIntosh is stepping down from his post to accept a role at the Big Ten, leaving a major vacancy behind.
Later Sunday and on Monday morning, more details emerged about McIntosh’s imminent departure.
The former Badgers football player is accepting a role as the Big Ten’s Deputy Commissioner for Strategy, commissioner Tony Petitti announced on Monday, which is a newly created role by the conference
for McIntosh.
In the role, McIntosh will advise the Commissioner, reporting directly to him, and lead overall strategy development for the Conference. He will begin his role officially on May 1, 2026.
“As intercollegiate athletics continues to change at an unprecedented pace, it is essential for the Big Ten Conference to maintain its role as a national leader in academic and athletic excellence,” Petitti said in a statement. “To ensure we support our 18 institutions at the highest level possible, it is important to reinforce our leadership team with additional strategic experience. We are excited to add Chris at such a transformational time and know his experience as an athletics director, administrator and student-athlete in the Big Ten will serve him well in this role.”
McIntosh had been at his post since 2021 and had been in the Badgers administration since 2014, initially working under former Athletic Director Barry Alvarez before moving his way up to the role.
“I have been a part of the Big Ten Conference as a student-athlete, administrator, and Athletic Director since arriving at Wisconsin in 1996. The opportunity to join Commissioner Petitti’s leadership team and help guide the Conference and its institutions toward a stronger future is an honor,” McIntosh said.
McIntosh wrote a letter to Badgers fans regarding the news, thanking them for their support while announcing his resignation, effective immediately.
“As you may already be aware, the Big Ten Conference has announced my appointment as the Conference’s first Deputy Commissioner for Strategy,” McIntosh said. “I am honored that Commissioner Petitti and the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors believe that I can contribute in a meaningful way to advancing the Conference during this time of unprecedented transformation in college sports. With this announcement, I have resigned as UW-Madison’s Athletic Director effective today.
“There is never a good time to leave an organization, especially one where I feel so connected and where there is more great work to be done. I was not searching for something new, as not only do I love the University of Wisconsin, I also believe the position of its Athletic Director is one of the best jobs in the country. This newly created position with the Big Ten Conference, however, represents a unique and incredible opportunity for me to draw on the experience and insight I have gained over the past many years to help shape what comes next for the Conference, including the University of Wisconsin. I see it as a natural extension of my work.”
With McIntosh’s departure, Wisconsin’s administration will be undergoing quite a bit of change. Earlier this year, Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin announced that she would be leaving to take on the role of President of Columbia University. Now, McIntosh is departing as well.
In his place, current Badgers Deputy Athletic Director, Chief Operating Officer, and football general manager Marcus Sedberry is taking over the role of Interim Athletic Director. Sedberry has been with the Badgers since 2022, arriving as the Deputy Athletic Director after five years at Baylor.
