The University of Wisconsin is again searching for an athletic director, and the process feels troublingly familiar. In the 2021 search, several qualified candidates of color received interviews. Many community members believed Sean Frazier, now athletic director at Northern Illinois University and a former UW deputy athletic director, was passed over in favor of Chris McIntosh, who had less experience. During McIntosh’s tenure, the department faced significant challenges.
Now, in the current search, the concerns have only deepened. Community members are asking how the university could move forward without interviewing Frazier or even Marcus Sedberry, the current interim athletic director at UW–Madison, both of whom have extensive experience and strong records of leadership. Their credentials are not in question. Their commitment to student-athletes is not in question. Their readiness for the role is not in question.
So, the question that is being asked, loudly and reasonably, is this:…