Wisconsin's Luke Fickell says Chris McIntosh's departure is like losing a friend

MADISON – The success or failure of Chris McIntosh’s five-year run as Wisconsin’s athletic director will probably be tied to Luke Fickell’s success.

The hire of the football coach was McIntosh’s most important move. And when times got tough – Fickell has gone 17-21 during his first three seasons – McIntosh not only stood behind his coach by bringing him back for a fourth season, but he also boosted the financial resources to the program.

What we’re reminded of in the wake of McIntosh’s departure for a job in the Big Ten office is that the relationship between AD and coach was more than boss-employee.

“Losing a friend is not easy,” Fickell said.

Fickell spoke to reporters Tuesday, April 14, at Camp Randall Stadium after his team’s eighth spring practice. The coach is the first university employee to speak about McIntosh’s departure, which became public April 12 and was officially announced April 13.

Fickell said McIntosh told him of his impending departure last week.

Marcus Sedberry, McIntosh’s deputy AD as well as the general manager for the football program, is the interim athletic director, Adding the interim role to Sedberry’s plate creates a ripple effect that could affect his GM duties depending on how long he serves as interim AD.

The good news for the football program is that McIntosh’s departure didn’t come in January, which is the height of the transfer portal or in December when Fickell and his staff were wrapping up its 2026 high school recruiting class. Those are especially busy times for college football general managers.

“I think, selfishly speaking, it's a decent time for us,” Fickell said when asked about the impact McIntosh’s departure on the day-to-day operation of the football program. “We're locked in through all the recruiting and portal stuff for this season. Now, obviously, recruiting never stops, but at least we're in a good place.”

Chris McIntosh kept close watch of Wisconsin football program

McIntosh kept a close eye on the football program for multiple reasons.

First, the sport generates 80% of the revenue for the athletic department, so there was a need for him to have his finger on the program’s pulse.

But McIntosh is also a former UW football All-American who was personally invested in Wisconsin football's success due to his history with the program, as well as his son’s interest in it. Ethan McIntosh, a standout tackle at Verona High School, is part of the Badgers’ 2027 recruiting class.

And when it comes to their careers as players, Fickell and McIntosh were contemporaries. Fickell and Ohio State faced McIntosh and Wisconsin in 1996 when Fickell was a senior defensive tackle and McIntosh a freshman tackle.

The two have built a bond.

“That's the guy that you can visit with and sit down with,” Fickell said of McIntosh. “Not that I can't do that with Marcus and even some of the coaches on our staff, but any time that there's things like that that are changes that people you know are in your corner (leave), it's always a little difficult.”

Will the new athletic director, Fickell be aligned?

No timetable has been provided for the hire of a new athletic director, a process that could be complicated by the university’s search for a new chancellor.

Usually the AD’s vision for athletics falls in line with the chancellor’s, just as Fickell’s vision for the football program was in alignment with McIntosh’s.

That isn’t guaranteed with the hire of a new athletic director.

“I think the easiest thing for us right now is to understand, you've got to win,” Fickell said. “We're not beating around the bush. We're not changing anything.

“As Mac and I sat and we talked about it. I don't know that it’s any different. Yes, having a guy, if you know him really well and you can sit down and be friends with (is nice). But we all understand this is a big boy ball and this is a big business and it comes down to doing your job and doing it really well.” 

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin's Luke Fickell reacts to AD Chris McIntosh's departure