Wisconsin sports fans are unbelievably happy after a major shakeup in the athletic department.
It was officially announced early Monday morning that Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh is stepping away from the program to join the Big Ten. Rumors and early reports started circulating Sunday on social media.
“I have been a part of the Big Ten Conference as a student-athlete, administrator, and Athletic Director since arriving at Wisconsin in 1996. The opportunity to join Commissioner Petitti’s leadership team and help guide the Conference and its institutions toward a stronger future is an honor,” McIntosh said in a statement announcing the news.
The shakeup represents a massive moment for Wisconsin sports as the program will have only its third AD since 2004.
McIntosh was the man responsible for firing football coach Paul Chryst and hiring Luke Fickell. The move, while celebrated at the time, has been nothing short of an epic disaster.
Fickell might be on the hot seat, but make no mistake about it. Fans directly blamed McIntosh for the football program falling off a cliff.
How are Wisconsin fans reacting to the news the kingpin responsible is gone?
Total and complete joy!
Below are some reactions on the Wisconsin subreddit reacting to the news McIntosh is leaving for the B1G offices:
As you can see from the reactions, fans aren’t just happy. Many are focused on one thing:
What does McIntosh’s exit mean for Luke Fickell?
It’s likely not good news. The reality is that coaches are often protected by the AD who hires them because firing the coach means the AD is next on the chopping block.
Well, McIntosh is gone, and Fickell’s guy is no longer there to protect him if the 2026 season goes off the rails like the previous three.
Wisconsin now enters some uncharted territory with the margin for error being razor thin. The right decision, and things return to the glory days. The wrong decision, and the program will further plunge into the abyss. Let me know your thoughts at [email protected].