Wisconsin track & field coach Tom Jones, right, poses with four Wisconsin athletes inside Camp Randall in this undated photo provided by the University of Wisconsin.
Big shoes to fill: Look back at Wisconsin athletic directors through the years
With the University of Wisconsin officially promoting Chris McIntosh to succeed Barry Alvarez on Wednesday, take a look back at the university's previous 10 athletic directors:
Thomas E. Jones, 1916-24
George Little, 1925-1932
Walter Meanwell, 1934-1936
Harry Stuhldreher, 1936-50
Decades after making history under coach Knute Rockne in 1924, Notre Dame's Four Horsemen — right halfback Don Miller (from left), fullback Elmer Layden, quarterback Harry Stuhldreher and left halfback Jim Crowley — dance together in New York City on Oct. 25, 1949.
Guy Sundt, 1950-55
In 1949, Guy Sundt, left, and Paul F. Neverman, right, were recognized for their quarter of a century of service to the WIAA state high school basketball tournament. Charles W. Wetmore, Sun Prairie principal and president of the WIAA Board of Control, presents the two with gold watches.
Ivy Williamson, 1955-1969
Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch, 1969-87
Ade Sponberg, 1987-89
Pat Richter, 1989-2004
Barry Alvarez, 2004-2021
As expected, the UW System Board of Regents on Wednesday morning approved a contract with the former Badgers football player to be only the third UW athletic director in the past 32 years.
UW’s new AD said he is “a different person than Barry (Alvarez) is and I have a different approach” and added that the department faces “significant, real challenges.”
McIntosh said he’s “humbled and excited” to be taking over for Barry Alvarez, who’s retiring June 30.
“Certainly my style is different from Barry’s,” McIntosh said in the biggest understatement of the day. “Barry has his own unique style. It’s been well-documented. Swagger is a term that he has trademarked. I have my own style, and I’m comfortable with how I am.”
Ruben Anthony is calling for an independent review of the hiring of Chris McIntosh, arguing that the hiring process was tainted by outgoing athletic director Barry Alvarez's open support for McIntosh.
The relationship between the outgoing UW athletic director and the man replacing him began 27 years ago with a promise that was kept.
Messages show who had Chancellor Rebecca Blank's ear and reveal support for McIntosh from former colleagues but also detail some desire for a break from connections to Barry Alvarez.
