Barry Alvarez, Wisconsin’s long time athletic director, is expected to announce soon that he is retiring. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, multiple sources have said that Alvarez will publicly share his plan within the next few weeks.
Wisconsin’s deputy athletic director, Chris McIntosh, is said to be Alvarez’s preferred pick to take over the soon-to-be vacant position. However, UW could look to fill the position with someone who has no ties to the University. It’s unclear at this time whether they will conduct a national search. McIntosh has held his position since July 2017, and sources have said that Alvarez has groomed him to take over.
Alvarez’s Career at UW
Alvarez has been at Wisconsin for 32 years. He served as the Badgers’ head football coach from 1990-2005, dramatically turning the program around. Wisconsin was 9-36 in the four seasons before Alvarez took over the team. During his tenure as head man, he compiled a 118-73-4 record and won three Big Ten and Rose Bowl championships. In July of 2005, Alvarez announced he would step down as head coach after the fall season. In 2006, he became UW’s full time athletic director.
Few universities in the nation have seen the level of success across multiple sports that Wisconsin has had with Alvarez leading the athletic department. Since Alvarez became athletic director, the University of Wisconsin has won a combined 16 team national titles and 73 regular season or tournament conference championships.
More details regarding this situation should emerge within the next few weeks.
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