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Jim Leonhard joining B1G coaching staff

Paul Harvey

By Paul Harvey

Published:

Jim Leonhard is no longer with Wisconsin after serving as the team’s longtime defensive coordinator and interim coach during the 2022 season. However, he’s on his way back to the B1G for the 2023 season.

On Tuesday, Illinois officially announced the addition of Jim Leonhard to Bret Bielema’s coaching staff. Leonhard and Bielema’s time at Wisconsin overlapped in 2004 when Leonhard was a DB in Bielema’s first season as DC for the Badgers.

Illinois announced Leonhard’s role will be as a Senior Football Analyst. It is unclear at this time what his duties will include.

Leonhard returned to Wisconsin in 2016 as a DBs coach for Paul Chryst’s coaching staff. He added the role of DC in 2017 and held that post until 2022 when he assumed the interim coach role after Chryst was fired.

Leonhard helped stabilize the ship as the interim, leading Wisconsin to a 5-3 record to finish the year a season ago. However, the Badgers ultimately went with Cincinnati’s Luke Fickell as the head coach moving forward.

While it is unclear what Leonhard’s role will be, it is worth noting he has a strong track record of developing young players, particularly at the defensive back position. That is notable with Ryan Walters’ departure to become the head coach at Purdue after a defensive turnaround for the Illini that included some strong prospects being molded at the DB position.

Paul Harvey

Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.