Shawn Eichorst Wins Praise from Wisconsin’s Greg Gard

Eichorst Hits the Ground Running

Less than a week after his official start on July 13, new Wisconsin athletic director Shawn Eichorst has already made a noticeable splash on campus. He attended donor events, visited the July 14 men’s basketball practice alongside interim chancellor Eric Wilcots, and introduced himself to players and staff. “I couldn’t be more excited and more happy,” said coach Greg Gard, who praised the new boss for “having your back” and wanting to “attack it head‑on.” The quick, full‑steam effort from Eichorst was described as “a breath of fresh air” and gave the Badgers “wind in our sails.”

Players Feel the Energy

Sophomore guard Zach Kinziger said Eichorst’s personal approach left a strong impression. “He came and introduced himself. Saw him around a couple other times already, talked to him personally. So I think that’s huge for the players just to kind of have that relationship with him.” The quick meet‑and‑greet events, including a photo op at Camp Randall’s Champions Club, helped build early rapport.

Shared Roots and a Long History

Both Eichorst and Gard hail from southwestern Wisconsin—Eichorst from Lone Rock and Gard from Cobb—and they both graduated from in‑state Division III schools. Eichorst’s ties to the program go deeper: he oversaw the Bo Ryan‑led men’s basketball squad while working under Barry Alvarez from 2006‑2011. Gard recalls how Ryan and he helped Eichorst when he considered the Miami AD job, a role that eventually went to Jim Larranaga, who became the Hurricanes’ all‑time winningest coach.

“I still have a lot of the same notes that we hammered out over at the Main Depot over a beer and a burger, so I have great admiration for [Gard].” Eichorst added, “He’s a great ball coach.”

A Career Built Across Power Conferences

Before returning to Madison, Eichorst served as AD at Miami (2011‑12) and Nebraska (2012‑17), then spent eight years as deputy AD and chief operating officer at Texas. Under his watch, the Longhorns reached the College Football Playoff semifinals twice and captured five Learfield Directors’ Cup titles. Those 15 years of experience span all four major conferences, a résumé that impressed Gard.

“It was a home run hire,” Gard said. “I thought it was exactly who 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’s had success with and the fact that he’s been here.”

Eichorst visited a recent men’s basketball practice along with interim chancellor Eric Wilcots, and part of his message was that he is “so darn excited to be here” and wants to get to know the players. His visit seemed to leave a positive impression on Gard’s players.

“He came and introduced himself,” sophomore guard Zach Kinziger said. “Saw him around a couple other times already, talked to him personally. So I think that’s huge for the players just to kind of have that relationship with him. … It’s a good start for sure.”

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Eichorst and Gard – natives of southwestern Wisconsin villages Lone Rock and Cobb, respectively, and alumni of in-state Division III schools – already have plenty of shared history. Eichorst’s duties when he worked under Barry Alvarez from 2006-11 included oversight of the Bo Ryan-led men’s basketball program.

Ryan and Gard also gave Eichorst an assist as he was leaving for the University of Miami and thinking about the direction to take with the Hurricanes’ men’s basketball coaching vacancy. Their choice, Jim Larranaga, eventually became the Hurricanes’ all-time winningest coach.

“I still have a lot of the same notes that we hammered out over at the Main Depot over a beer and a burger, so I have great admiration for [Gard],” Eichorst said. “I’ve loved watching him grow. I think you all have. He’s a great ball coach.”

After stints as athletic director at Miami from 2011-12 and Nebraska from 2012-17 – and football results that were not to Nebraska fans’ liking – Eichorst spent eight years as the deputy athletic director and chief operating officer at Texas.

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The Longhorns reached the College Football Playoff semifinals twice and won five Learfield Directors’ Cup titles during his tenure. Those career stops in his 15 years since last residing in Madison gave him experience as either an AD or deputy AD in all four power conferences.

“It was a home run hire,” Gard said. “I thought it was exactly who 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’s had success with and the fact that he’s been here.”

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin AD Shawn Eichorst is ‘breath of fresh air,’ Greg Gard says