There may soon be another job opening in the Big 12.
Desiree Reed-Francois, Arizona‘s director of athletics, is reportedly one of multiple candidates for the same position at Wisconsin, according to Jason Scheer at 247Sports.
The Wisconsin opening emerged as previous AD Chris McIntosh stepped into a Big Ten front office position as the league’s deputy commissioner for strategy earlier this year. Reed-Francois, Dallas Stars president Brad Alberts, Texas AD Shawn Eichorst and former Badgers guard and Dallas Mavericks interim GM Michael Finley are all reportedly in the running.
While Reed-Francois isn’t from Wisconsin originally, she has a proven administrative track record from Virginia Tech, UNLV, Missouri, and, most recently Arizona, which named the Fremont, California, native and Wildcat alumna as the school’s 15th AD in 2024.
Just in the last year, Arizona enjoyed Big 12 regular-season and tournament titles, an NCAA Final Four run and back-to-back Women’s Triathlon National Championships. Additionally, the school extended men’s basketball coach Tommy Lloyd and football coach Brent Brennan.
Wisconsin isn’t a broken brand by any means, but football, the core revenue driver, needs immediate attention as Luke Fickell comes off back-to-back losing seasons after beginning his career in 2022 with a pair of seven-win finishes. The Badgers, though, are a women’s hockey powerhouse and also returned to the men’s Frozen Four during the 2025-26 season.
Moreover, Wisconsin is competing against major NIL players in Ohio State, Oregon and Michigan as a member of the ever-evolving Big Ten. Reed-Francois is certainly the outside name in this particular candidate pool – expected to be around 2-3 finalists – but the fact she’s pushed into the final few means she’s got their attention.
The potential Arizona AD opening wouldn’t be open long. It’s a growing Big 12 brand and home to one of the best men’s basketball programs in the country.
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