Chris McIntosh has officially stepped down from his position as the athletic director at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, effective April 13, to take on a new role as the deputy commissioner for strategy at the Big Ten Conference, beginning May 1. McIntosh's five-year tenure saw him replace Barry Alvarez and make notable coaching hires, including Luke Fickell for football and Mike Hastings for men's hockey. In a statement, McIntosh expressed his deep connection to Wisconsin and described the new role as a unique opportunity to influence the future of the conference. Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti welcomed McIntosh, highlighting the need for strategic leadership during a transformative period for the conference. Marcus Sedberry, currently the deputy athletic director and football general manager, will serve as the interim athletic director while a search for McIntosh's permanent replacement is initiated.