The University of Wisconsin's search for a new athletic director has taken an unexpected turn, as one of the top internal candidates has officially taken himself out of the running. Mitchell Pinta, the Badgers' deputy athletic director and chief revenue officer, has confirmed he will not pursue the position, leaving the search committee to look elsewhere for Chris McIntosh's replacement.

"It's not the right move for my family and I," Pinta explained, while expressing confidence in the university's leadership to find the ideal candidate. "My focus remains on continuing the strong business momentum at Wisconsin and helping the department build on that success."

Pinta's decision came swiftly after the university announced its search committee and hired a search firm on May 12. The nine-person committee features some notable names, including Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard and Dallas Mavericks co-interim GM Michael Finley, with professor Lauren Bishop serving as chair.

A proud UW alum who joined the athletic department in 2022, Pinta has been instrumental in driving the Badgers' business operations forward. His portfolio includes negotiating the department's contract extension with Under Armour, organizing major concerts at Camp Randall Stadium and the Kohl Center, and spearheading fundraising and sponsorship initiatives. His impressive resume also includes 14 seasons with the NFL, where he rose to become the league's group managing director of sponsorship and business development, and a spot on Sports Business Journal's 40 under 40 list in 2025.

With Pinta out of the picture, attention now turns to Marcus Sedberry, UW's interim athletic director and the other deputy AD alongside Pinta. Sedberry has remained tight-lipped about his intentions, telling reporters in April that he "hadn't really been addressing that with anybody because I just want to focus on what I have right in front of me."

If Wisconsin ultimately hires from outside the current athletic department, it would mark a historic shift—the first such move since 1989, when the university brought in UW alum Pat Richter from Oscar Mayer. Richter went on to serve 15 years as athletic director, followed by Barry Alvarez's 17-year tenure and McIntosh's five years at the helm. As the search continues, Badgers fans will be watching closely to see who steps up to lead one of college sports' most storied programs into its next chapter.