After UW-Madison named a new athletic director on Wednesday, all eyes are turning to the university’s other vacant leadership position: chancellor.
Here’s the latest on UW-Madison’s chancellor search
Wisconsin State Journal
July 2, 2026
Top Stories
Research
Madison lakes show encouraging trends despite recent algae blooms
The Cap Times
Phosphorus remains one of the region’s top concerns for lake health, said Hilary Dugan, an associate professor and researcher at UW-Madison’s Center for Limnology, which studies inland lakes.
Campus life
UW Cinematheque’s summer schedule is one casualty of major pipe leak
Isthmus
Had UW Cinematheque organizers known what was coming, they might have reconsidered naming their most recent film series Bleak Week. It was almost too on the nose.
Did UW-Madison uphold its deal to end the 2024 encampment?
The Cap Times
Protesters reached an agreement with University of Wisconsin-Madison administrators in 2024 to end a pro-Palestinian encampment on Library Mall. Two years later, the two sides disagree on whether that deal has been upheld.
Crime and safety
$50K cash bond set for man accused of attempted sexual assault at UW Hospital
Channel 3000
A $50,000 cash bond was set Wednesday afternoon for a 43-year-old man charged in an attempted sexual assault at UW Hospital last month, online court records show.
44 years unsolved: UWPD urges public for answers in Donna Mraz cold case
NBC 15
Forty-four years after University of Wisconsin-Madison student Donna Mraz was murdered, UW-Madison Police say the case remains active and continues to generate new leads.
Madison man charged with attempted sexual assault at UW Health University Hospital has bond set
ABC 27
The UW-Madison Police Department said [Coney] went into multiple restrooms at UW Health University Hospital while armed with a knife. That’s where he tried to sexually assault a hospital employee, according to investigators.
Agriculture
UW-Madison Extension hosting beef cow-calf workshop
Winona Daily News
UW-Madison Extension will host a beef cow-calf workshop Tuesday, July 28, at 6 p.m. at Starck Century Farm near Cadott.
This program is designed for cow-calf producers seeking to improve pasture and herd management practices while increasing profitability. Topics will include managing pastures for long-term production, breeding decisions for cow longevity, and marketing the fall calf crop. The Starck family will also discuss their transition to rotational grazing and efforts to improve herd genetics.
Athletics
Wisconsin selects its new athletic director as Shawn Eichorst returns to the Big Ten
Associated Press
Shawn Eichorst is returning to his home state and getting another chance to run a Big Ten athletic department.
Wisconsin’s new athletic director says he’s learned quite a bit since the last time he was in a similar position.
Evaluating football program early focus of new Wisconsin athletic director
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The University of Wisconsin announced Shawn Eichorst as its athletic director July 1 and among his first-day duties was to make a telephone call to Badgers football coach Luke Fickell.
‘I’m extremely excited,’ Shawn Eichorst to rely on experience, familiarity as Wisconsin’s AD
Channel 3000
Shawn Eichorst’s Wisconsin ties run deep. The Lone Rock native played football at UW-Whitewater, got his law degree at Marquette, and served as UW-Whitewater’s Athletic Director before coming to UW-Madison from 2006-2011, where he served as Barry Alvarez’s right-hand man, climbing his way to being the Badgers deputy Athletic Director.
Wisconsin native Shawn Eichorst named UW athletic director
Channel 3000
UW-Madison has a new director of athletics, and he’s a son of America’s Dairyland.
UW-Madison interim Chancellor Eric Wilcots announced Wednesday that Shawn Eichorst will lead the program moving forward. Eichorst, who was raised in Lone Rock and graduated from UW-Whitewater, was previously the Deputy Athletic Director and Chief Operating Officer at the University of Texas.
Shawn Eichorst named Wisconsin athletic director
NBC 15
Shawn Eichorst was named University of Wisconsin-Madison’s director of athletics, interim Chancellor Eric M. Wilcots announced Wednesday.
Wisconsin officially announces Shawn Eichorst as next athletic director
ABC 27
Shawn Eichorst has officially been named the Badgers’ next athletic director. UW-Madison interim Chancellor Eric M. Wilcots announced the hiring of Eichorst on Wednesday.
Urban League of Greater Madison calls for review of UW–Madison athletic director hiring process
ABC 27
The Urban League of Greater Madison is requesting a formal review of the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s hiring process for its athletic director position, citing concerns about whether the search followed established policies.
Wilcots appoints Shawn Eichorst as athletic director
The Daily Cardinal
University of Wisconsin-Madison Interim Chancellor Eric Wilcots announced July 1 that he appointed Shawn Eichorst to serve as the next athletic director for the Badgers – the first decision in his time as chancellor.
UW-Madison names Wisconsin native as new athletic director
WPR
The University of Wisconsin-Madison has named a new leader for Badgers athletics.
Wisconsin native Shawn Eichorst has been appointed to serve as the university’s new athletic director, interim Chancellor Eric Wilcots announced Wednesday.
Polzin: How Shawn Eichorst got off to a solid start as Wisconsin AD
Wisconsin State Journal
It’s not easy for someone to make a great first impression in a virtual setting, so it’s only fair to cut Shawn Eichorst some slack for what technically served as his introductory news conference as the University of Wisconsin athletic director.
Shawn Eichorst’s vision for Wisconsin: ‘Excellent in everything we do’
Wisconsin State Journal
Shawn Eichorst presented a collaborative vision for the future of the University of Wisconsin athletic department in an effort to become its leader.
Urban League leader calls for review of Wisconsin athletic director hiring process
Wisconsin State Journal
The leader of the Urban League of Greater Madison has called for a formal review of the University of Wisconsin’s athletic director hiring process to see if it was in line with policies and equal opportunity standards.
New AD Shawn Eichorst’s starting salary an increase over his Wisconsin predecessor
Wisconsin State Journal
Shawn Eichorst will have a higher compensation level as University of Wisconsin athletic director than his predecessor did.
It’s official: Wisconsin names Shawn Eichorst new athletic director
Wisconsin State Journal
It’s about 45 miles from the Richland County village where Shawn Eichorst grew up to the office he’s about to take over at the University of Wisconsin.