The University of Wisconsin is working to finalize the hiring of Shawn Eichorst as its next athletic director on June 30, 2026.
Eichorst will leave his current role as deputy athletic director and chief operating officer at the University of Texas, a position he has held since 2018.
The administrative transition follows the departure of former Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh, who recently exited to serve as deputy commissioner for strategy for the Big Ten conference.
Marcus Sedberry has been managing the athletic department operations as interim athletic director during this period.
Former Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez previously commended Eichorst when initially hiring him as a senior associate athletic director in 2006.
Eichorst later climbed the ranks to become deputy athletic director under Alvarez in 2009 before moving to other major programs.
"He brings a lot to the table. He has been a college student-athlete and director of athletics, both at UW-Whitewater," said Barry Alvarez.
"He also is a proven Division IA athletic administrator. Being a native of Wisconsin, he knows our state."
Eichorst brings extensive leadership experience to Madison, having previously directed the athletic departments at Miami from 2011 to 2012 and Nebraska from 2012 to 2017.
His administrative career began at Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he also played college football from 1999 to 2003.
McIntosh reflected on his tenure with the Badgers in April, expressing gratitude for his time leading the university's sports programs.
"To be able to work for the University of Wisconsin and certainly for the last five years as athletic director, to be able to pour everything I had into transitioning Wisconsin into a changing world, it's just been an honor," McIntosh told SBJ.
"I've been surrounded by the best people who care about our student athletes and the university. They've given everything to making Wisconsin the best it can be."
The former athletic director added that while departing Madison is a challenging shift, the evolving landscape of the Big Ten conference presents an important next chapter for his career.
He will work alongside Commissioner Tony Petitti to help guide the conference through its upcoming collegiate athletic cycles.
"On one hand, it's very difficult for me to transition away from a place that's so important to me.
On the other hand, it's an incredible honor to transition to a position at the Big Ten and to work for an incredible leader like Commissioner Petitti," said McIntosh.
