Note: Registration is free but required to view the event live.
College athletics is changing faster than ever. From the increased benefits to athletes (including name, image and likeness opportunities) and increased athlete mobility through the transfer portal, to evolving fan expectations and new opportunities for growth, universities across the country are navigating a rapidly shifting landscape.
Join UW–Madison’s new athletic director, Shawn Eichorst, and Wisconsin men’s basketball coach Greg Gard as they discuss what’s ahead for college sports and how Wisconsin is adapting. This timely conversation will offer an insider’s perspective on the challenges, opportunities, and innovations shaping the next era of college athletics.
The panel will discuss key questions such as:
- What have been the most significant changes across college sports in the past five years? What drove these changes?
- How have these changes affected opportunities for student-athletes across various sports? Are student-athletes better off because of these changes?
- How do these changes affect the responsibilities of coaches and their staff members? What is different for men’s basketball?
- How are other athletic departments and universities responding to these changes? Is Wisconsin well-positioned to succeed in the new environment? What adjustments and investments do you foresee needing to ensure success?
Join fellow UW alumni and friends online for a livestream and Q & A with these athletics leaders. The talk will be moderated by Mike Knetter.
Speakers
Shawn Eichorst is the University of Wisconsin’s director of athletics. He was appointed to the position in July 2026, bringing decades of leadership experience in college sports as an administrator, attorney, and former student-athlete. A native of Lone Rock, Wisconsin, Eichorst returned to Madison after serving as deputy athletics director and chief operating officer at the University of Texas–Austin, where he helped guide the department through a period of tremendous competitive success, major facilities investments, and the transition to the SEC. Throughout his career, he has led athletics programs at Nebraska, Miami, and UW–Whitewater. He also served in senior leadership roles at the UW and South Carolina. Known for his focus on student-athlete success, strategic planning, and organizational growth, Eichorst has overseen accomplishments in athletics, academics, fundraising, facilities, and governance at every stop along the way. A UW–Whitewater graduate and former football team captain, he also earned his law degree from Marquette University, where he taught sports law as an adjunct professor.
Greg Gard is the head coach of the UW’s men’s basketball team. A finalist for Naismith National Coach of the Year in 2022, Gard has guided the Badgers to Big Ten regular season championships twice. Gard was named Big Ten Coach of the Year in each of those title-winning campaigns (2020 and 2022). Wisconsin’s incredible postseason success hasn’t wavered on Gard’s watch either, with the team qualifying for eight of the 10 NCAA tournaments during his tenure. His postseason ledger includes Sweet 16 appearances in his first two seasons at the helm. He is also a driving force behind the immensely successful Garding Against Cancer fundraising initiative, which has raised more than $10 million for cancer research.
This event is hosted by the Wisconsin Alumni Association®.
