Wisconsin Athletic Director McIntosh Leaving for Big Ten
PUBLISHED Apr 12, 2026, 11:22 PM ET
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Madison, Wisconsin. Chris McIntosh plans to step down as the University of Wisconsin athletic director to accept a position with the Big Ten Conference as deputy commissioner for strategy, according to reports published this week by the Sports Business Journal and the Wisconsin State Journal; local outlets confirmed the reports. Wisconsin did not respond to messages seeking confirmation; McIntosh, 49, took over as athletic director in summer 2021 after Barry Alvarez retired and had been associate athletic director since 2014. In a statement he called the move an honor and opportunity to work with Commissioner Tony Petitti and Big Ten leadership during a dynamic period for college athletics.
By Daniel Hayes | JQJO News
Timeline of Events
- 2014 — McIntosh named associate athletic director at the University of Wisconsin.
- 2021 (summer) — McIntosh became Wisconsin's athletic director after Barry Alvarez retired.
- Sunday (reported) — Sports Business Journal and Wisconsin State Journal reported McIntosh plans to step down.
- Following reports — Local outlets including Newsday, AP, CBS58 and WSAW published confirmations.
- At time of reporting — Wisconsin had not responded to messages seeking confirmation of the departure.
News Intelligence
- If you're a Wisconsin sports fan, this is a big deal. McIntosh's move to the Big Ten could shape the future of college athletics. Keep an eye on how this plays out. It could affect your favorite teams and games.
- Articles Published:
- 5
- Right Leaning:
- 0
- Left Leaning:
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- Neutral:
- 5
- Distribution:
- Left 0%, Center 100%, Right 0%
The Big Ten Conference and Chris McIntosh benefit through acquisition of an experienced administrator and strategic leadership opportunity, while the conference gains McIntosh's institutional knowledge from Wisconsin.
The University of Wisconsin athletic department faces short-term disruption and a leadership transition that could affect program continuity, recruiting, and administrative operations.
Coverage of Story:
From Left
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From Center
Wisconsin Athletic Director McIntosh Leaving for Big Ten
Newsday AP NEWS CBS58 https://www.wsaw.com The Herald JournalFrom Right
No right-leaning sources found for this story.
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