Wisconsin finished only 4-3 during a pandemic-riddled 2020 season but finished with wins over Minnesota and Wake Forest. Under Leonhard’s guidance over the last five years, the Wisconsin defense ranks top five nationally in points, total yards, passing yards, rushing yards, completion percentage and third down conversions, per Zach Heilprin. ![]() But right now, this is where I want to be, at this level, with this group of kids,” Leonhard said. Right now, I just feel like UW is the right place. I know the good, I know the bad, being in there for 10 years. In the end, staying with Wisconsin – and continuing to build and guide the Badgers football program while keeping his young family in Madison – kept Leonhard from taking the step to the NFL. Leonhard described himself as a “longshot” to leave Madison going into the process, but he was intrigued by the opportunity to coordinate an NFL defense for a Super Bowl contender and went through the full interview process with LaFleur. ![]() The two met twice, once virtually and once in person, per Oates and Wilde. His ties to Madison are strong, but Leonhard said he was “about out the door,” signaling how close he was to taking the Packers’ job, and he even talked contract numbers with LaFleur this week. In 2016, he joined the Wisconsin coaching staff as a defensive backs coach and was promoted one year later to defensive coordinator. He went on to be a three-time All-American and three-time All-Big Ten selection before carving out a 10-year NFL career. Leonhard, 38, was a walk-on defensive back at Wisconsin in 2001. But it was not the right time for me to go back to the NFL.” Few could be considered more knowledgeable about having success on defense at Wisconsin than Leonhard, a 2015 inductee to the UW Athletic Hall of Fame. Leonhard is the 31st head coach in Wisconsin football history. Chryst won 72 of his games with the program, and still lost his job after the team was obviously regressing. The Badgers fired Paul Chryst after he compiled a record of 67-26 coaching the Badgers. “It was me choosing UW,” Leonhard told Oates and Wilde. After six years as the Wisconsin defensive coordinator, Jim Leonhard stepped into the role of interim head coach on Oct. 2 days ago &0183 &32 Wisconsin interim head coach Jim Leonhard will make his debut as the top dog Saturday against Northwestern, and expectations are through the roof. Leonhard spoke with Tom Oates and Jason Wilde of the Wisconsin State Journal about the process and why he eventually decided to state at Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Badgers defensive coordinator has been mentioned as a. Leonhard played college football at Wisconsin and professionally as safety for ten seasons in the National Football League (NFL). ![]() He is the interim head coach for the Wisconsin Badgers football team. Wisconsin defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard was close to taking the same job with Matt LaFleur and the Green Bay Packers, but his love of the Badgers football program and desire to stay in Madison ultimately led him to turn down the offer on Friday. As soon as Nebraska fired head coach Scott Frost on Sunday, Jim Leonhard became a name on those annual lists. James Andrew Leonhard (born October 27, 1982) is an American football coach and former player.
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