MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh has received a five-year contract extension that includes a salary increase.
McIntosh’s new contract will extend until June 30, 2029. He has been serving as Wisconsin’s athletic director since Barry Alvarez’s retirement in the summer of 2021.
“Chris is an exceptionally effective leader during this time of significant change in collegiate athletics,” Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin stated on Wednesday. “Amidst this transition, he continues to position the Badgers for long-term success at the highest level of college sports. I’m excited that he will remain a Badger and look forward to his continued leadership in the coming years.”
In the announcement regarding McIntosh’s contract extension, Wisconsin stated that he will receive a base salary of 1.45millionthisyear,alongwitha 50,000 annual increase. This would raise his salary to $ 1.5 million next year.
With the escalator clause, McIntosh’s salary would reach $ 1.65 million in the final year of his contract.
McIntosh’s initial contract provided him with a base salary of $ 1 million for 2024.
His compensation will be funded through a mix of revenue from the athletic department and donations from the UW Foundation specifically earmarked for athletics.
At 47 years old, McIntosh has been with Wisconsin’s athletic department since 2014. He was an All-American offensive tackle for the Badgers before being drafted 22nd overall by the Seattle Seahawks in 2000.
As athletic director, his most significant decisions include coaching changes in football and men’s hockey. He dismissed Paul Chryst as the football coach in October 2022 and hired Luke Fickell from Cincinnati later that year. He also let go of Tony Granato as men’s hockey coach at the end of the 2022-23 season, bringing in Mike Hastings from Minnesota State.
Fickell finished his first season at Wisconsin with a record of 7-6, while Hastings led the team to a 26-12-2 record and its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2021.
“Being the Director of Athletics at Wisconsin is a privilege, and I appreciate Chancellor Mnookin for her support and trust in me,” McIntosh stated. “The landscape of college athletics is evolving rapidly, and I am dedicated to helping our student-athletes succeed both academically and athletically in this new environment. Together with our administrative team, coaches, and staff, I am eager to address the forthcoming challenges and create more opportunities for success.”
Leave a Reply