Wisconsin tabs former Badger standout, UW-Oshkosh leader to head W Club

Madison, Wisconsin – The University of Wisconsin has announced that Darryl Sims, a former Badger football standout and UW-Oshkosh leader, will take on the role of director for the W Club. UW announced the appointment on Instagram on September 24. The W Club is the University of Wisconsin's official letterwinner organization, which provides resources and opportunities for alumni to stay engaged with the university.

Sims has been leading UW-Oshkosh's athletic department since 2010, initially as athletic director and later as assistant chancellor for intercollegiate athletics. Abby Gildernick, UW-Oshkosh's deputy athletic director, will serve as interim athletic director until the university conducts a national search for Sims' successor. Sims was a two-time all-Big Ten selection as a defensive end for Wisconsin in the 1980s.

He was selected in the first round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers and played for both the Steelers and Cleveland Browns, appearing in 58 games. Sims joined UW-Oshkosh in 1998 as a part-time assistant before working with the UW-Oshkosh Foundation and Oshkosh Sports Complex. He also coached for NFL Europe and had internships with multiple NFL teams.

Sims will succeed Chris Solinsky, who held the W Club position for five months before transitioning to Wisconsin's director of track and field and cross country. Solinsky himself replaced the highly successful Mick Byrne, who was the winningest coach in Big Ten men's cross country history.