Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard is stepping off the field and onto a different kind of team—the search committee for the University of Wisconsin-Madison's next athletic director. The Colts' top executive, a proud UW-Madison alum and former Badgers football player, will lend his sports leadership expertise to find the right candidate for the role.

The search comes after longtime AD Chris McIntosh left in April to become the Big Ten Conference's deputy commissioner for strategy, a position he took after serving as the Badgers' athletic director since 2021. Now, Wisconsin is turning to a mix of sports and business heavyweights to fill those big shoes.

Joining Ballard on the committee is an impressive lineup: Michael Finley, the former Badgers basketball star and NBA standout; Rob Cramer, a veteran sports administrator; Meghan Duggan, a three-time Olympic hockey medalist and former Wisconsin captain; Marija Pientka, a university administrator; Michael Shannon, a business leader; and Williams Smith, another key figure in the search. ESPN's Adam Rittenberg also reports that the school will bring in a professional search firm to assist the committee.

For Ballard, this is a return to his roots. After playing for the Badgers in the 1990s, he climbed the NFL ladder to become Indianapolis' GM in 2017. His eye for talent and team-building could prove invaluable as Wisconsin looks for its next leader—one who will oversee everything from game-day operations to the future of Badgers athletics.

Whether you're a Colts fan or a Badgers supporter, this is a reminder that great sports minds often stay connected to their alma maters. And for fans looking to show their team pride, there's no better time to gear up in your favorite Colts or Wisconsin apparel.