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Wisconsin Football Legend Jim Leonhard Has Some ‘Irons in the Fire’

Former University of Wisconsin football interim head coach Jim Leonhard has followed a unique journey since departing from the Badgers after the 2022 season—and has largely flown under the radar ever since.

Following his departure from the Wisconsin Badgers, where he served as the defensive coordinator for six seasons and gained a reputation as one of the brightest young minds in the sport, Leonhard found himself in a new role as a senior analyst on Bret Bielema’s coaching staff at Illinois.

Bielema brought Leonhard on board as an analyst in July 2023, allowing him to split his time between Champaign and the Madison area, where he spent time with his family during the season.