Shawn Eichorst Named Wisconsin’s New Athletic Director Amid Football Rebuilding Efforts

His appointment follows the departure of Chris McIntosh, who left to become the Big Ten’s deputy commissioner for strategy.

Eichorst’s Background and Vision for Wisconsin

Eichorst’s career spans stints at multiple Power Five conferences, including his previous roles as athletic director at Nebraska (2012–2017) and Miami (2011–2012). His tenure at Texas, where he joined in 2018, saw the Longhorns rank among the top programs in the Learfield Directors’ Cup all-sports standings, a metric that evaluates overall athletic success. At Texas, Eichorst emphasized building a “room of elite head coaches,” a philosophy he now aims to apply at Wisconsin.

“You’re going to be as good as your coaches,” Eichorst said during his introductory press conference. “If you have an elite group of coaches who are working together and uniting, I think you can start to build something special.”

Wisconsin’s football program, which has struggled with back-to-back losing seasons (2022–2023), represents a key challenge for Eichorst.

Comparing Texas and Wisconsin: Swag, Humility, and Ambition

Eichorst highlighted the similarities between Texas and Wisconsin, noting both are research universities located in state capitals and members of major conferences. However, he acknowledged a cultural difference: “There’s swag at Texas… but we have a little humility with that deal. We need to get our shoulders up.”

Eichorst’s goal, he said, is to “feel good about what it is that we’re doing” while maintaining the program’s core values.

Challenges and Opportunities

Eichorst’s hiring comes at a pivotal moment for Wisconsin athletics. The university’s interim chancellor, Eric Wilcots, emphasized Eichorst’s accomplishments at Texas, where the program’s football team made two College Football Playoff appearances in the last three years.

Eichorst’s past experiences offer both promise and caution. However, Eichorst has since reflected on that period as a learning opportunity. “When we got there in 2018, we weren’t very good in a lot of areas. And that didn’t change overnight,” he said, acknowledging the long-term nature of rebuilding efforts.

For Wisconsin, the path forward may depend on Eichorst’s ability to balance ambition with the program’s existing strengths.

What’s Next for Wisconsin Athletics?

As Eichorst begins his new role, the question remains: Can Wisconsin recapture the dominance of its 2