The University of Wisconsin is again searching for an athletic director, and the process feels troublingly familiar. In the 2021 search, several qualified candidates of color received interviews. Many community members believed Sean Frazier, now athletic director at Northern Illinois University and a former UW deputy athletic director, was passed over in favor of Chris McIntosh, who had less experience. During McIntosh’s tenure, the department faced significant challenges.
Now, in the current search, the concerns have only deepened. Community members are asking how the university could move forward without interviewing Frazier or even Marcus Sedberry, the current interim athletic director at UW–Madison, both of whom have extensive experience and strong records of leadership. Their credentials are not in question. Their commitment to student-athletes is not in question. Their readiness for the role is not in question.
So, the question that is being asked, loudly and reasonably, is this:
“Why were these qualified Black candidates not even given the opportunity to interview?”
At a time when universities across the country claim to value diversity, transparency, and fairness in leadership searches, the absence of interviews for such well–established candidates raises serious concerns. The community deserves answers. And the university owes the public, at the appropriate time, a clear explanation of why these qualified leaders were not even granted an interview.
Dr. Gloria Ladson Billings is professor emerita of education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Ruben Anthony is CEO of the Urban League of Greater Madison. Kaleem Caire is founder and president of One City School.
