Tag: Jim Leonhard

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema celebrates with a supporter as he heads to the locker room after a game against Wisconsin on Saturday, October 1, 2022, at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis. Illinois won the game, 34-10, in Bielema s return to Madison after coaching the Badgers from 2006-2012.Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin Usat Wisconsin Vs Illinois Football 100122 2932 Ttm

Illinois hires former Wisconsin DC, interim coach Jim Leonhard

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Wisconsin guys reunited in Champaign on Tuesday with the hiring of former Badgers defensive coordinator and interim head coach Jim Leonhard to Bret Bielema’s staff.

Leonhard was named senior football analyst for the Fighting Illini.

The three-time All-Big Ten safety played at Wisconsin before a 10-year NFL career and returned to Madison to coach for seven seasons.

Following Illinois’ 34-10 win over the Badgers in 2022, Wisconsin fired coach Paul Chryst and promoted Leonhard, who had been an assistant since 2016.

But after interviewing the former All-American to be Wisconsin’s new head coach, the Badgers hired Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell as Chryst’s permanent replacement.

Former Wisconsin players Aaron Henry and Antonio Fenelus are also a part of Bielema’s coaching staff at Illinois. Bielema was head coach at Wisconsin from 2006-2012.

–Field Level Media

Nov 26, 2022; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Jim Leonhard looks on during warmups prior to the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Eagles interview ex-Wisconsin coach Jim Leonhard for DC

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Philadelphia Eagles interviewed former Wisconsin defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard as they look to fill that same position on head coach Nick Sirianni’s staff, multiple outlets reported Monday.

Leonhard was an NFL defensive back for 10 seasons and retired after the 2014 campaign. Two years later, he was back at his alma mater, Wisconsin, as defensive backs coach and added defensive coordinator to that title in 2017.

Last season, when the Badgers started 2-3, Wisconsin fired longtime coach Paul Chryst and Leonhard took over on an interim basis. After the Badgers went 4-3 under Leonhard, he emerged as a strong candidate for the permanent job but Wisconsin turned to Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell instead.

Leonhard, 40, decided to leave the program after Fickell’s arrival.

In his six seasons as Wisconsin’s defensive coordinator, Leonhard’s defenses finished in the top five in the nation four times. In 2021, the Badgers were No. 1 in total defense when they allowed an average of 239.1 yards per game.

The Eagles are seeking a replacement for Jonathan Gannon, who was hired last week as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals — a day after the Eagles’ 38-35 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII.

Leonard reportedly turned down a chance to become the Green Bay Packers’ defensive coordinator after the 2020 season, choosing to remain with the Badgers.

–Field Level Media

Nov 26, 2022; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Jim Leonhard looks on during warmups prior to the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Jim Leonhard resumes assistant role at Wisconsin

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Jim Leonhard will return to Wisconsin’s coaching staff next season, working under new head coach Luke Fickell, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Saturday.

Leonhard served as the Badgers’ interim coach for the final seven games of the season after the firing of Paul Chryst.

With a 4-3 record, Leonhard appeared to have the inside track for the permanent position, and it was a surprise to many last weekend when the Badgers announced the hiring of Fickell, formerly the head coach at Cincinnati.

The report indicated Leonhard likely will return as defensive coordinator, the position he had held since 2017.

Leonhard, 40, and Fickell met on Wednesday, and Fickell once stood in Leonhard’s shoes. He was the interim head coach at Ohio State in 2011, following the departure of Jim Tressel and before the hiring of Urban Meyer.

Fickell stayed on the staff under Meyer and remained there until Cincinnati named him head coach late in 2016.

“That’s not easy. There’s a lot of things we all have to be able to get over,” Fickell said about his decision to return to Ohio State in an assistant role, per the Journal Sentinel. “It takes a special person in some ways to get over a lot of those things.

“I had a hard time with it. But I do believe it was the right thing for me and the way that I did it and went out about it and it helped me become who I am.

“But my way is not always the right way. It’s not the way for everybody else. But that is what it really comes down to. What is in your heart and what is in your mind?”

–Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Luke Fickell and quarterback Ben Bryant (6) take the field for the first quarter of the NCAA American Athletic Conference game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and the East Carolina Pirates at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022. East Carolina Pirates At Cincinnati Bearcats Football

Conflicting report: Will Luke Fickell or Jim Leonhard coach Wisconsin?

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Will Luke Fickell or Jim Leonhard emerge as the next head football coach at Wisconsin?

ESPN reported Sunday that Wisconsin is making a “strong push” to lure Fickell away from Cincinnati, which he led to the College Football Playoff following the 2021 season.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, however, reported Sunday that sources close to the program “have not wavered in their view” that Leonhard will get the job on a permanent basis. Leonard has served as interim coach since Paul Chryst’s firing on Oct. 2. He guided the Badgers to a 4-3 mark after a 2-3 start under Chryst, who was 67-26 in eight seasons as head coach.

Wisconsin (6-6, 4-5 Big Ten) is bowl eligible. The regular season ended Saturday with a disappointing 23-16 home loss to Minnesota.

“I hope I’m given the opportunity to push this program forward in all areas here in the near future,” Leonhard told reporters Saturday after the game. “Big task, but I’m excited for the opportunity.”

The Journal Sentinel said Sunday that Wisconsin considered Fickell, Baylor head coach Dave Aranda and Kansas head coach Lance Leipold for the opening but moved on from all three. Leipold wasn’t offered the job, and the other two chose to stay at their respective schools, per the report.

ESPN, however, said the Badgers want to hire Fickell in the next few days. He has turned down chances to be considered by other schools in the past, deciding instead to stay at Cincinnati because of a preference for the Midwest.

Fickell, 49, coached one season in the Big Ten, serving as interim coach at Ohio State in 2011 after the firing of Jim Tressel. The Buckeyes were 6-7.

Hired at Cincinnati in 2017, Fickell has a 57-18 record with the Bearcats. With a 9-3 record this season, Cincinnati is headed to a fifth straight bowl game.

–Field Level Media

Oct 22, 2022; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Jim Leonhard during warmups prior to the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Wisconsin close to removing Jim Leonhard’s interim tag

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Jim Leonhard is on the verge of being named the permanent football could at Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Friday.

The university fired Paul Chryst on Oct. 2 and replaced him with Leonhard. He has guided the Badgers to a 4-2 mark after a 2-3 start under Chryst, who was 67-26 in eight seasons as head coach.

Wisconsin (6-5, 4-4 Big Ten) is bowl eligible. The Badgers’ regular-season finale is Saturday at home against Minnesota.

The official deadline to apply for the head coaching position, according to the university’s job listing, is Saturday. The Journal Sentinel reported a quick hiring — as soon as Sunday or Monday — is expected.

“They want to get moving as soon as they can,” a source told the newspaper.

Leonhard, 40, is a native of Tony, Wis., and a Wisconsin football legend. He was inducted into the school’s athletic Hall of Fame in 2015.

An undersized safety, he walked on to the team in 2001. After four seasons, he was a three-time, first-team All-American. In his career in Madison, he intercepted 21 passes — tying for the most in school history — and broke up 50 others. His 11 interceptions in 2002 are a school mark.

He wasn’t selected in the NFL draft but played 10 years (2005-14) in the league with the Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Denver Broncos and Cleveland Browns. In 142 career games, he made 14 career interceptions.

Leonhard joined the Wisconsin coaching staff as secondary coach in 2016 and was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2017 — the role he held until he was named interim coach.

He said earlier this week he was focused on finishing the season and not a promotion.

“I don’t really want to get into much of that right now,” he said, per the Journal Sentinel. “This week to me is about this season, this group of players. … I don’t want that attention for our guys. …

“Going to have some conversations this week and hopefully it leads in the direction I want it to go.”

–Field Level Media

Browns sign safety Jim Leonhard

Posted on | by Aaron Wilson | Leave a Comment on Browns sign safety Jim Leonhard

<p> The Cleveland Browns have signed veteran safety Jim Leonhard.</p> <p> Leonhard has played for browns coach Mike Pettine with three teams previously: the Buffalo Bills, New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens.</p> <p> This marks their sixth season working together.</p> <p> Leonhard wrote on Twitter: "It's official, I just signed my 8th NFL contract to become a part of the Cleveland Browns.#dawgpound."</p> <p> Leonhard could help the Browns like an extra coach on the field.</p> <p> Leonhard has recorded 254 tackles, 3.5 sacks, four interceptions and 21 passes defended playing for Pettine with the Ravens and Jets.</p> <p> Leonhard had four interceptions last season for the Bills, recording 41 tackles and five passes defenses.</p> <p> The Browns also signed former Furman offensive lineman Ryan Lee, who's also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints and St. Louis Rams.</p> <p> Follow me on Twitter: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/Ravensinsider">@RavensInsider</a></p> <p> Aaron Wilson covers the Ravens for The Baltimore Sun</p>