Will the Badgers hire a new football GM after Chris McIntosh’s departure?

Q: Who is the interim Athletic Director for Wisconsin after Chris McIntosh's resignation?

Marcus Sedberry has been named the interim Athletic Director following Chris McIntosh's resignation.

Q: What are the implications of Chris McIntosh's departure for Wisconsin football?

McIntosh's departure raises questions about the future of the football general manager position, which is critical for the program.

Q: When does Wisconsin plan to finalize their decision on hiring a new general manager?

Head coach Luke Fickell expects the Badgers to have a plan in place by the end of the month.

Q: What roles has Marcus Sedberry held within Wisconsin Athletics?

Marcus Sedberry has served as Deputy Athletic Director, Chief Operating Officer, and Organizational and Football General Manager.

Marcus Sedberry, deputy athletic director/chief operating officer for Wisconsin Athletics, is shown during the program recognizing donors for the Kellner Center Athletic Center 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 saw some major administration news over the weekend as Athletic Director Chris McIntosh announced he’s resigning to take a role at the Big Ten. It’s a significant move as McIntosh had been with the Badgers since 2014 and had operated as the Athletic Director since 2021. With McIntosh’s departure, Deputy Athletic Director and Chief Operating Officer Marcus Sedberry was named the interim Athletic Director. Sedberry has seen his responsibilities grow at Wisconsin, and was even named the General Manager of Wisconsin Athletics last Fall, helping in the front office of the football department. However, with Sedberry’s new role, do the Badgers plan to hire a new general manager, which has become one of the most important positions in college athletics? “The biggest thing for us right now is, you know, obviously Marcus Sedberry and what he has to be able to do in his role. So there’s some decisions, to be honest with you, that we’re just going to have to make moving forward as to what direction are we going to be able to go in that,” head coach Luke Fickell said this week. “Based on, you know, what they’re going to do and what he’s going to do. So other than that, I think, selfishly speaking, it’s a decent time for us that we’re locked in through all the recruiting and portal stuff for this season. Now, obviously, the following year recruiting never stops, but at least we’re in a good place where, hey, it’s a focus on spring football. It’s a focus on all these new guys and the guys that have been here developing this team and this camaraderie and how we can do things together. And so some of the external things at this point in time, it’s kind of nice. It doesn’t have a great effect on us on a daily basis.” Still, Fickell expects the Badgers to have a plan in place by the end of the month. “Yeah, I mean, we just got to see what the whole timeline and what’s going to happen, but we got to be prepared,” Fickell said. “That’s the thing. As we all know, when you’re in athletics, things don’t wait. And every day there’s an accelerated process in the athletic world that maybe doesn’t exist in everybody else’s world. And so we have to have a plan. We have to be prepared. And we got to be ready to be able to move based on what happens. And, you know, probably by the end of Spring Ball.” Sedberry wrote a letter to Badgers fans, acknowledging the move, and shared that he and Fickell will work together to find the next general manager. “Following this week’s announcement from Chancellor Mnookin, I want to share my gratitude for the trust and confidence she has placed in me during this transition,” Sedberry said. “It is an honor to step into the role of Interim Director of Athletics. I am humbled by the responsibility and committed to ensuring that our department continues to move forward with clarity, purpose, and alignment. I also would like to express my deep appreciation for the leadership Chris McIntosh provided Wisconsin Athletics during his tenure. “Transitions naturally bring uncertainty, but they also create opportunities. What remains constant is our work on behalf of Badger student-athletes – supporting them as they learn, grow and compete at a high level. They deserve our very best and that commitment guides us daily. “Over the past four years, I have served as Deputy AD, Chief Operating Officer, and Organizational and Football General Manager (GM) for Wisconsin Athletics. As Interim Director of Athletics, my focus is on successfully driving our department as a whole through this transition period. Regarding Wisconsin Football, the GM role is critical to the program and I will work with Luke Fickell to identify a solution and consider the future of the position.” They’ve got a big hire on their hands.