Wisconsin didn’t go to the ends of the earth to find its new defensive coordinator.

Instead, the Badgers made an in-house hire for the opening left by Justin Wilcox.

Wisconsin announced that defensive backs coach Jim Leonhard will be the team’s new defensive coordinator. He’ll maintain his duties as the secondary coach, as well.

The former Wisconsin star will take over a unit that ranked third in rushing defense and seventh in total defense.

Leonhard has only been a member of Wisconsin’s staff for one year, but he helped lead one of the top pass defenses in the country. The Badgers ranked second nationally in interceptions and they finished fourth in scoring defense.

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The 34-year-old coach will look to pick up where Wilcox left off after leaving Madison to take the head coaching job at Cal. Leonhard will be the Badgers’ third defensive coordinator in as many seasons.

Leonhard was a three-time All-American at Wisconsin in the early 2000s. The former walk-on tied a school-record 21 interceptions, which was the fourth-most in B1G history.

The Badgers will return the likes of Jack Cichy, T.J. Edwards and D’Cota Dixon from a group that fueled their 11-win season.