Wisconsin Badgers fans happy to see UW-Madison chancellor Jennifer Mnookin leave for new job

Wisconsin Badgers fans on social media shared their joy in seeing UW-Madison chancellor Jennifer Mnookin leave her position. She was the boss of athletic director Chris McIntosh.

UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin poses with Wisconsin Badgers football fans who stormed the field after their team beat No. 23 Washington Saturday, November 8, 2025 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. Wisconsin beat Washington 13-10. | Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The University of Wisconsin-Madison will soon have new leadership, and fans of Wisconsin Badgers athletics are welcoming the change with open arms.

UW-Madison chancellor Jennifer Mnookin is leaving to take over as president of Columbia University, leaving Wisconsin to find a new replacement to run the university.

As chancellor, Mnookin was the boss of athletic director Chris McIntosh and was directly involved in hiring him in 2021.

He, in turn, hired Luke Fickell a year later, and the three have been inextricably tied together for the current direction of the football program.

Related: Wisconsin chancellor leaving will disrupt organizational alignment for Badgers athletic department

Some Badgers fans directed the blame for the recent on-field struggles toward her, as the person who hired the athletic director and had the power to fire him.

She stuck by McIntosh and Fickell as the losing continued in 2025 and was even booed for it at halftime of a game.

Now that Mnookin is officially leaving, many of those same Wisconsin fans were celebrating on social media.

Mnookin never made sense. This is excellent news. I hope we hire a Badger to replace her. At the least, someone who actually appreciates Wisconsin culture, inclusive of its football culture. https://t.co/GMtsDI3ek2

— Corey Bennett (@ChiBadgPartDeux) January 25, 2026

Wisconsin should try having a new leader who likes football https://t.co/QBg1Ut15EJ

— Ryan Glasspiegel (@sportsrapport) January 25, 2026

As a Badger fan, hell yeah. Big news https://t.co/6mszCS2Q1v

— Big Montana (@CurlyLambeauner) January 25, 2026

Now THIS is positive Badgers news https://t.co/rwuhPtc1Pq

— In Development 🎯 (@j__1252) January 25, 2026

Can she fire McIntosh and Fickell on her way out? https://t.co/qbXDfdlF2c

— Ryan Pohle (@RyanPohle) January 25, 2026

Well at least one thing went right this weekend

Goodbye. pic.twitter.com/9MUt934Wqp

— Dr. Marte (@Badgers_44) January 25, 2026

Need to hire a Fat Football Guy as next Chancellor. The fatter the better https://t.co/TDTzqCV3ec

— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) January 25, 2026

Related: Pressure built up on Wisconsin chancellor to make changes to football program

The new chancellor isn't going to come in and start making changes to the athletic department or coaching staffs right away, but that person isn't going to have the same ties to McIntosh and Fickell that Mnookin did.

It will be more of a clean slate for them to prove that they deserve to continue in their respective roles.

Their new boss likely won't bring the same pre-existing loyalty as the old one.

More Wisconsin Badgers News:

• Former Wisconsin Badgers coach Jim Leonhard misses out on Green Bay Packers coordinator job

• Wisconsin Badgers pass rusher already boosting his NFL Draft stock at Shrine Bowl practice

• Wisconsin Badgers had another transfer portal QB target in mind before landing Colton Joseph

• Wisconsin Badgers OT Riley Mahlman's NFL Draft stock takes a hit with weigh-in measurements