Director of Athletics

Job Summary

UW-Madison seeks a bold, visionary, relationship-driven, entrepreneurial, and financially astute Director of Athletics. The Athletic Director (AD) will lead Wisconsin Athletics by strengthening relationships, driving innovation and revenue generation, elevating competitiveness, and positioning the department to thrive nationally within the evolving Power Four landscape.

The AD leads Wisconsin Athletics and provides oversight for all aspects of the varsity athletic programs, including matters pertaining to personnel, academic and athletic success, budget, facilities, operations, fundraising, compliance, and student-athlete wellness and development. The AD reports directly to the Chancellor and serves as a member of the university's executive leadership team.

Key Job Responsibilities

Strategic Resource Leadership:

• Develop and execute a long-term strategic vision for Wisconsin Athletics that aligns with institutional priorities and the evolving landscape of Division I athletics.
• Develop and implement effective strategic, financial, and organizational management plans within a complex Division I athletics department.
• Lead departmental budgeting, resource allocation, and operational planning while balancing competitiveness, innovation, and financial sustainability.
• Work collaboratively with advancement leadership, donors, alumni, and external partners to strengthen fundraising efforts and support strategic priorities across Wisconsin Athletics.
• Implement innovative revenue generation strategies, business partnerships, governance structures, and operational models that position Wisconsin Athletics for long-term success.
• Understand and successfully navigate emerging issues related to NIL, revenue-sharing models, scholarship limits, conference dynamics, media partnerships, and the future business model of college athletics.

Management and Leadership:

• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and high-performing departmental culture that prioritizes communication, alignment, transparency, and competitive excellence in support of the department's 600-plus student-athletes.
• Support and develop coaches, administrators, and staff while establishing clear expectations and standards of accountability throughout the department and its nearly 400 employees.
• Support the academic achievement, wellness, leadership development, and holistic success of student-athletes while maintaining a strong commitment to the educational mission of the university.
• Serve as a visible, approachable, and engaged leader with student-athletes, coaches, alumni, donors, faculty, staff, fans, and community stakeholders.
• Build strong relationships across the university community, including academic leadership, advancement, governance groups, state leaders, alumni, and key stakeholders throughout Wisconsin.
• Serve as an effective advocate and ambassador for Wisconsin Athletics regionally and nationally through donor engagement, conference involvement, media relations, and community outreach.
• Promote and strengthen the Wisconsin brand while enhancing campus pride, statewide engagement, and the overall student-athlete and fan experience.
• Establish, communicate, and support expectations for competitive excellence across all sports.
• Oversee the administration of the intercollegiate athletics program while ensuring compliance with NCAA, Big Ten Conference, and institutional rules, regulations, and policies.
• Participate actively in conference governance, NCAA leadership opportunities, and national conversations impacting intercollegiate athletics and higher education.

Department

Wisconsin Athletics competes at the NCAA Division I level as a member of the Big Ten Conference and is widely recognized as one of the leading athletics departments in the country. The department sponsors 23 varsity sports and is committed to achieving excellence in competition, academics, student-athlete development, leadership, and community engagement.

With 30-plus national championships and 200-plus conference titles, Wisconsin Athletics is a consistent power in the Big Ten Conference and in NCAA competition. With an operating budget of over $200 million, the department serves as an economic engine for the local Madison community and the entire state of Wisconsin, attracting over 2 million people to the region annually with an overall statewide annual impact of $977 million.

Compensation

Negotiable

Qualifications

• Demonstrated commitment to academic and athletic excellence.
• Strong financial acumen and experience managing complex budgets, organizational priorities, and revenue strategies.
• Demonstrated success in fundraising, donor engagement, and external relationship development.
• Knowledge of NCAA rules, compliance expectations, and Division I Power Four athletics operations.
• Proven leadership experience within collegiate athletics, a related higher education environment, professional sports, and/or other complex organizational environments involving athletic competition.
• Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and organizational leadership skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through change with integrity, vision, collaboration, and strategic innovation
• Experience operating successfully as an AD or senior administrator within the modern Power Four athletics landscape is strongly preferred

Education

Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred