Wisconsin Badgers Hire Shawn Eichorst, Fired By Nebraska In 2017

MADISON, WI — The University of Wisconsin-Madison named Shawn Eichorst as its next director of athletics Wednesday, according to a statement from interim Chancellor Eric Wilcots.

Eichorst, a Lone Rock native and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater graduate, previously served as Wisconsin's deputy athletic director and chief operating officer from 2006 to 2011 under Barry Alvarez, according to the university.

He most recently worked as deputy athletics director and chief operating officer for football at the University of Texas at Austin, a role he held since 2018, per Wisconsin Athletics.

Eichorst also served as athletic director at UW-Whitewater from 1999 to 2003, at Miami from 2011 to 2012 and at Nebraska from 2012 to 2017, according to the university.

Eichorst called returning to Wisconsin "truly an honor" in a statement released by the university.

Wilcots said the search committee, which included a current student-athlete, former letterwinners, alumni and senior staff, sought a leader who could build on the program's excellence amid the changing landscape of college athletics, according to the university's announcement.

Eichorst replaces Chris McIntosh, who resigned in April to take a position with the Big Ten Conference. Deputy Athletic Director Marcus Sedberry served as interim athletic director since McIntosh's departure, according to Wisconsin Athletics.

Eichorst inherits a football program that has gone 17-21 under head coach Luke Fickell over the past three seasons and has not reached a bowl game the last two years. He will be formally introduced at an event at Camp Randall Stadium, though a date has not been announced, according to the university.