"Stepped into a circumstance that was incredibly difficult and over-delivered. “Jimmy, first and foremost, did an incredible job for the program," he said.
McIntosh saluted the work of Leonhard on the night Fickell was formally introduced as head coach. Leonhard has revealed that by deciding to stay at UW. What is in your heart and what is in your mind?" But that is what it really comes down to. 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. It takes a special person in some ways to get over a lot of those things. There’s a lot of things we all have to be able to get over. … That is going to help you to figure out where you want to be next year.’ You’ve got to figure out where you want to be in five years and where you want to be in 10 years. “I told him,” Fickell said Monday: "‘You’ve got a lot of things to think about. The possibility of Leonhard staying at UW was discussed before Wednesday. The Buckeyes finished 3-5 in the Big Ten and 6-7 overall under Fickell and Urban Meyer was named head coach before the 2012 season.įickell was retained as co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach and held that title through the 2016 season before he took over the Cincinnati program. He served as Ohio State’s interim head coach in 2011, after Jim Tressel resigned as head coach in May. UW went 4-3 under Leonhard but athletic director Chris McIntosh went with Fickell.įickell understands Leonard’s dilemma as well as anyone. Leonhard was UW’s interim head coach for the final seven games of the regular season, after Paul Chryst was fired on Oct. More: What bowl will extend an invitation to Wisconsin on Sunday? Here are the two likely options for the 6-6 Badgers. More: Wisconsin Badgers offensive line coach Bob Bostad, wide receivers coach Alvis Whitted not expected to return in 2023 Leonhard, 40, served as UW’s secondary coach in 2016 and took over as defensive coordinator in 2017.įrom 2017-21, UW finished in the top five nationally in total defense and scoring defense four times.ĭuring that run, UW’s average rank was third in points allowed (17.3 per game), first in total yards allowed (284.8 per game), first in pass-efficiency defense (110.5 rating) and third in rushing defense (103.4 ypg). Tressel's hire hasn't been announced but he was on the road recruiting for UW on Friday. It is unclear whether Mike Tressel, who was Fickell's defensive coordinator/linebackers coach at Cincinnati, will be a co-coordinator with Leonhard. Leonhard was expected to meet with the team Saturday to tell the players about his decision, according to a source.
Leonhard met with Fickell on Wednesday and took time to mull his options. MADISON – Jim Leonhard has decided to return to Wisconsin in 2023 under new head coach Luke Fickell, likely as the team’s defensive coordinator.
UPDATE: Jim Leonhard announces he will not return as UW's defensive coordinator
0 kommentar(er)
