Barry Alvarez shares thoughts on Chris McIntosh departure

Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh is shown during a program recognizing donors for the Kellner Center Athletic Center Thursday, August 28, 2025 at UW-Madison in Madison, Wisconsin. The estimated cost of the project is $285 million. Ted and Mary Kellner are major donors. | Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Wisconsin Badgers community was left surprised last week when Athletic Director Chris McIntosh announced his immediate resignation to take on a role at the Big Ten.

McIntosh had been Wisconsin’s Athletic Director since 2021 and had been in the department since 2014, being in charge of several key hires, including Luke Fickell and Robin Pingeton. He had succeeded former Athletic Director Barry Alvarez, who had quite the run from 2004 to 2021 before announcing his retirement.

Speaking on ESPN Madison last week, Alvarez gave his thoughts on McIntosh’s departure and the role opening.

“I found out when the rest of the public found it out,” Alvarez said on The Wilde and Tausch Show. “Mac (Chris McIntosh) called me later that day, after it had been announced. I was surprised, like everyone else. Why wouldn’t you be surprised? Who would anticipate that move?

“My thoughts? We just move forward, that’s all. It’s a great job. It’s a wonderful job. It’s a job that a number of highly qualified people would want and I’m sure the candidate list will be plentiful. Go out there and find the best guy.”

What did Alvarez think about why McIntosh wanted to leave?

“I don’t know [why he’d want to leave],” Alvarez said. “That’s a good question, only he can answer that. Are you not happy? Are you concerned? What does the league bring? What advantage is it that working for the Big Ten brings? Those are all questions that you have to answer. Do you want to uproot your family? Move to Chicago? I don’t know, those are only things he can answer. But that’s his business.”