Chris McIntosh to be named new Wisconsin athletic director per reports [UPDATE: it’s official]

According to multiple sources, and had first by Nick Van Wagenen of 620 WTMJ out of Milwaukee, deputy athletic director Chris McIntosh will be named the new athletic director on Wednesday morning when the UW Board of Regents meet in a closed door session, with the only item on the agenda discussing the pay of a new athletic director. In case you’d forgotten, current athletic director Barry Alvarez will be retiring this June.

Per his bio on UWBadgers.com:

McIntosh has been with the Wisconsin athletic department since December of 2014, was named deputy athletic director in July of 2017. In his current role, McIntosh is charged with overseeing the day-to-day operations of the department, student-athlete recruitment, business development, human resources, and strategic planning.

McIntosh was a consensus All-America offensive tackle and Outland Trophy finalist for the Badgers in 1999. He captained Wisconsin’s back-to-back Big Ten and Rose Bowl champions in 1998 and 1999 and started 50 straight games during his college career. He was a first-round draft choice of the Seattle Seahawks in 2000 and played in Seattle for three seasons.

The native of Pewaukee has been Alvarez’s right hand man for some time and many thought he would be the choice when Alvarez finally decided to hang ‘em up. We will have more on this developing story once an announcement is officially made by UW.

UPDATE: Wednesday, 6/2/21, 10:37 a.m. CT

The Badgers have made it official!

“I owe so much to the University of Wisconsin, and I’m deeply honored to be able to succeed Barry Alvarez,” says the first-generation college graduate from Pewaukee, Wis. “We will build upon our legacy of success on the field of competition and support our student-athletes in the classroom, on campus and after college.”

Here are some quotes from around the Big Ten regarding McIntosh’s appointment to the position.

Current AD Barry Alvarez: “I have known Mac since he was a teenager when he joined our football program. I am extremely proud of what he has accomplished in his life. He epitomizes the transformational power of the student-athlete experience at Wisconsin. He loves the Badgers and will put everything he has into building upon the foundation that has been established in our department.”

UW Chancellor Rebecca Blank: “Chris is a natural leader who loves the Badgers and cares about our student-athletes. He is uniquely positioned to continue our proud traditions of success on and off the field and doing things ‘the right way.’ Chris will build upon those traditions and has a strong vision for leading the program during a time of change in college athletics.”

Big Ten Conference Commissioner Kevin Warren: “Chris McIntosh is an excellent choice to serve as the director of athletics at the University of Wisconsin.”

Ohio State AD Gene Smith: “Chris is an excellent hire and is uniquely prepared to lead the University of Wisconsin Athletic department. He has the highest of integrity, knows the culture of Badger athletics, is respected by his peers in the Big Ten Conference and will bring the former student-athlete experience to his leadership style, which I feel is invaluable.”