Chris McIntosh's tenure as Wisconsin AD gets mostly low grades in poll

TL;DR

Chris McIntosh's tenure as Wisconsin's athletic director received mostly low grades in a recent poll. His notable actions included hiring football coach Luke Fickell and initiating a major fundraising effort.

Key points

Chris McIntosh's tenure received mostly low grades
He hired football coach Luke Fickell
Initiated fundraising for a new athletic center
Departed for a role in the Big Ten office
Fan perceptions may change based on football's future

Mentioned in this story

Chris McIntoshBig Ten

WisconsinLuke Fickell

Chris McIntosh's tenure as Wisconsin AD gets mostly low grades in poll

Chris McIntosh's tenure as Wisconsin athletic director included coaching hires, a major fundraising effort for a new athletic center and lobbying for recently approved legislation to provide annual taxpayer funding for the UW athletic department.

There were many other decisions during his tenure, of course, but perhaps the pivotal one that will be most remembered by fans is his choice to hire Luke Fickell to lead Wisconsin football.

As McIntosh departs for a new role in the Big Ten office as deputy commissioner for strategy, we asked fans to grade McIntosh's tenure as Wisconsin AD. It's fair to say that any grades deserve to be revisited after the future of the football program plays out over time under Fickell.

But for now, the struggling program – with no bowl appearances the last two seasons and a 17-21 record under Fickell – no doubt leaves a mark on McIntosh's current grade as AD, and that appears to play out in voting results among readers.

Poll results

Q&A

What were the main achievements of Chris McIntosh as Wisconsin AD?

Chris McIntosh's key achievements included hiring football coach Luke Fickell and leading a major fundraising effort for a new athletic center.

Why did fans give low grades to Chris McIntosh's tenure?

Fans graded Chris McIntosh's tenure low primarily due to mixed reactions to his decisions and the overall performance of the athletic programs during his time.

What is Chris McIntosh's new role after leaving Wisconsin?

After leaving Wisconsin, Chris McIntosh has taken a position as deputy commissioner for strategy in the Big Ten office.

How might the future of Wisconsin football affect perceptions of McIntosh's tenure?

The future performance of Wisconsin football under coach Luke Fickell could lead to a reassessment of McIntosh's tenure as athletic director.