Greg Gard didn’t spend much time hiding how he feels about Wisconsin’s new athletic director.
After an open basketball practice this week, Gard was asked about Shawn Eichorst, and he came out swinging with praise. The Wisconsin coach called Eichorst a “breath of fresh air” and said he has already made an impact around the program, language that had Badger fans reading between the lines about Chris McIntosh.
Gard never mentioned McIntosh by name, but the contrast was hard to miss. Phrases like “he's been here from day one” and “put wind in our sails” carried a clear message: things feel different now. For fans who already believed McIntosh was detached from the rest of the athletic department, the comments landed like a not-so-subtle comparison.
That perception has been around for a while. McIntosh was often viewed as someone who didn’t give much attention to the other programs, especially men’s basketball, and Gard was thought to be working without much help when it came to budget support.
Whether that was fair or not, it became part of the conversation. One detail that has stood out: McIntosh was rarely seen around the men’s basketball program, while Eichorst, who started Monday, has already been around several times.
Gard made it clear he sees Eichorst as a major win for Wisconsin.
“It’s a home run hire. I thought it was exactly what we needed at this point in time.
The experience he has, the places he's been, what he's been exposed to, what he's seen, what he has had success with, and the fact that he's been here. That's such a huge player.”
He also said Eichorst has already been showing up where it matters - at donor events, at practices, and in meetings with people around the program. Gard said the athletic director has been hard-working, available, and helpful, and added that all the coaches are genuinely happy to have him in place.
For now, Eichorst has clearly won over Gard and the other coaches. The next step is convincing the fan base, which is still waiting to see real change in the form of winning, better funding, and the kind of support they’ve been asking for. If those things start to show up, the “breath of fresh air” talk may stick.
In Other News...
Three Badgers Already Turning Heads In Greg Gards New Mix
Greg Gard opened summer workouts with two media-access practices in July, and the early look offered a first glimpse at how Wisconsins reshaped roster is starting to come together. With eight newcomers in the mix, the Badgers spent the first stretch of the summer sorting through new combinations, and the open sessions gave a few of the fresh faces a chance to show why they were brought in.
Among the players drawing attention were Victory Onuetu, Will Garlock and Eian Elmer, three newcomers who looked comfortable enough to stand out in different ways. For Wisconsin, the encouraging part is not just that the Badgers have new bodies to work with, but that some of them are already flashing the kind of size, activity and versatility Gard needs as he adjusts to the departures from last season and figures out how this group will fit together. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsins 2026-27 Hopes May Hinge On One Portal Gamble
Wisconsins offseason has already forced a recalibration after key departures, with the Badgers losing important backcourt production and looking to a mix of veterans, freshmen and portal additions to keep the roster balanced. Nolan Winter and Austin Rapp are back to provide some continuity, while the incoming group includes Trey Autry, Victory Onuetu and Eian Elmer, giving the staff a chance to patch several holes at once.
The biggest question is whether the new pieces can replace the scoring punch that left with the exits, especially on the wing, where Wisconsin needs someone to step in quickly and create offense. Elmer arrives from Miami-Ohio with the kind of rsum that suggests he can help right away, and if the Badgers are going to stay on track for 2026-27, this is the kind of portal swing that could end up mattering more than any other move they made. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Just Entered A Recruiting Fight Badgers Fans Know Too Well
The early recruiting chase for Ian Thomas is already turning into the kind of battle Wisconsin fans know can stretch out for a while. The 2028 running back from Tomball, Texas, has piled up nearly two dozen scholarship offers, and Wisconsin was among the first programs to get him on campus when he visited during Buckys Barbecue, giving the Badgers an early foothold in a crowded race.
Oklahoma is now working to set up its own visit, a move that could reshape the pecking order if it comes together. With Thomas drawing attention from multiple major programs this early, Wisconsins task is less about making a first impression and more about turning that initial trip into something lasting before the next wave of contenders gets its chance. [Read more 🡒]