MADISON — The University of Wisconsin announced the hiring of Shawn Eichorst as athletic director, effective July 1, 2026. Eichorst currently serves as deputy athletic director and chief operating officer at the University of Texas.

Eichorst previously served as deputy athletic director under Barry Alvarez at the University of Wisconsin from 2006 to 2011. He was athletic director at the University of Miami from 2011 to 2012, where he hired Jim Larranaga as men's basketball coach. From 2012 to 2017, Eichorst was athletic director at the University of Nebraska. During that tenure, he fired football coach Bo Pelini, who had a 67-27 record over eight seasons, and hired Mike Riley. Riley compiled a 19-19 record before being fired by Eichorst's successor. Eichorst also hired Amy Williams as Nebraska's women's basketball coach. Before these roles, he served as athletic director at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater from 1999 to 2003.

Eichorst is a native of Lone Rock, Wisconsin. He is an alumnus of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and holds a degree from Marquette Law School.

The search began after Chris McIntosh resigned in April 2026 to become deputy commissioner of the Big Ten Conference. McIntosh had been hired as Wisconsin's athletic director in 2021. Following his departure, Marcus Sedberry served as interim athletic director. Lauren Bishop, a social work professor and faculty athletics representative at the university, chaired the hiring committee. Other members included Chris Ballard, general manager of the Indianapolis Colts; Meghan Duggan, an executive with the New Jersey Devils; and Michael Finley, an executive with the Dallas Mavericks. The university retained CSA Search and Consulting to assist with the search.

Recent developments in the athletic department include the football program recording losing seasons in the two years prior to 2026, with Luke Fickell serving as head coach. Morocco Brown was hired as football general manager. Desiree Reed-Francois, the athletic director at the University of Arizona, denied interest in the Wisconsin position in a statement to the Arizona Daily Star.