Luke Fickell on Chris McIntosh's Exit: 'It's Not Easy to Lose a Friend'

Wisconsin's head coach Luke Fickell isn't panicking about losing his athletic director, but he's also not mincing words about what comes next. The day after AD Chris McIntosh announced his departure to become the Big Ten's deputy commissioner for strategy, Fickell made it crystal clear where the focus needs to be: winning games, plain and simple.

"I think the easiest thing for us right now is to understand you've got to win," Fickell said after Tuesday morning practice. "We're not beating around the bush."

The Departure That Stings

McIntosh, who hired Fickell away from Cincinnati at the end of the 2022 regular season, had been Wisconsin's athletic director since summer 2021. The two had built a real relationship, which is why Fickell didn't try to hide the emotional side of this move.

"Anytime there are changes with people you know were in your corner, it's always a little difficult, disappointing, whatever you want to say," Fickell said. "But so is life. You've got to be able to move and continue to go on."

Fickell said McIntosh gave him a heads up about the possibility last week. What's clear is that McIntosh had consistently backed his coach, even when the results weren't there. He made public comments supporting Fickell after a brutal 27-10 home loss to Maryland in September. When Wisconsin got shut out at home against Iowa and Ohio State in back-to-back October weekends, McIntosh sent a letter to season-ticket holders saying the school would increase investment in the football program. And when the Badgers hit rock bottom with six straight losses, McIntosh declared Fickell would stay beyond the 2025 season.

What's Next Under New Leadership

Marcus Sedberry, Wisconsin's former deputy athletic director and chief operating officer, is now working as interim AD while the school searches for a permanent replacement. Sedberry brings real experience around the block: he's worked at Baylor, Arkansas, Central Florida, and even spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Fickell sees that as a positive. "When you've been to other places and seen how things are done, you get a lot of experiences, good and bad, you take a lot of things in, you recognize how things are done," Fickell said. "I think that's one of the great things about Marcus. He's been in the NFL. He's been in several different spots."

Still, the numbers don't lie. Fickell is 17-21 at Wisconsin after the Badgers went 4-8 last season and 5-7 in 2024, snapping a Power 4-leading streak of 22 straight winning seasons. Win or lose, that's the conversation going forward.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.