Jim Leonhard has a new role with a Wisconsin football rival
The former Badgers star, defensive coordinator and interim coach has a new job in the Big Ten. Here's what we know.
Jim Leonhard going to Illinois
- Thread starter Packer54
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I haven't followed the WI coaching situation. I assume the new coach at WI just brought in his own DC?
Jim did great at WI at DC. I doubt he remains an analyst for very long before seeking a head coaching or DC position. (Assuming he has those aspirations)
Either way, a big addition for Illinois.
Jim did great at WI at DC. I doubt he remains an analyst for very long before seeking a head coaching or DC position. (Assuming he has those aspirations)
Either way, a big addition for Illinois.
Meh. We still gonna kick their asses in Kinnick.
Mike Tressel followed Luke F. To Wisky.
Sidenote-Tressel was the OL/OC at Wartburg in the late 90's.
Leonhard will be an asset. Bielema hired Aaron Henry as his DC. Pretty sure he has not held that position anywhere else. Henry was recruited out of high school by Iowa and ended up playing under Beilema at Wisconsin.
Bielema had some good teams at Wisconsin, but he wasn't able to sustain. He's only gotten fatter since, and he's yet to sustain anywhere else. He won't sustain at Illinois. Fat people like that don't sustain success.
Andy Reid agrees.
Illinois could become pretty good
not pleased about this development. that said if we actually get serious (signs are that we are) about making the iowa offense more than a TOP placeholder, a strong IL could be indirectly helpful to us by knocking off other contenders.
Going to the Rose Bowl in his final 3 years at Wisky isn’t sustaining? You need some better insults.
And pic of your non-fat self?
BB now going Saban for coaches to detox a year after getting the broom? Look for him to issue a Frost warning soon! 😀
Oh we’re serious…. 25 ppg serious.
Fwiw, his new DC-Aaron Henry-earned the FootballScoop defensive back coach of the year last year. Led the nation in overall pass defense.
Illinois is hard to pin down. They looked like the new player in the West early last season...but lost a little of the luster as the year progressed. I'll be interesting to see what happens the next couple of years. Leonard is a great addition.
They have Wisconsin and Penn State at home and go on the road to Iowa, Maryland and Minnesota...as well as Kansas. They'll need to win a bunch of those. I could see 'em losing all, if not most of them.
They have Wisconsin and Penn State at home and go on the road to Iowa, Maryland and Minnesota...as well as Kansas. They'll need to win a bunch of those. I could see 'em losing all, if not most of them.
He only "didn't sustain" when he went to Arkansas.....that was a disaster. He had some really strong years in Wisky. People got tired of him there because he was a jerk. I lived in Madison at that time. Actually met up with him at Ruth Chris in Middleton (Barry owned it at the time). Barry was a great guy.....Bielema was a jerk. And his wife was a beeotch. Most in the Madison knew this.
Going to be Iowa vs Illinois for the Big Ten West for the next few years.
Hmmm..... This is the West's last year if I'm not mistaken so that's highly unlikely.
Bielema left Wisconsin in 2012, after winning 3 consecutive Big Ten titles. He had some "down" years but went to 6 consecutive bowls in his 6 years as head coach in Madison. He was responsible for Russell Wilson coming to Wisconsin, stole Melvin Gordon from Iowa and had a pretty decent run with the Badgers. I HATE Wisconsin but I think Bielema is a good coach.
If Bart can drum up NIL support, Illinois is a sleeping giant with that recruiting base. Going off of 247 out of ease, the state has 12, 4* or higher players this year.
Bielema left Wisconsin because he could no longer tolerate being under Barry's thumb,.. Looking back, he probably should have just stuck it out...
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BB wanted to be "the man" and he would never be that with Barry there. Barry was beloved and Brett's ego got him sideways with people in the area. You are right though, given where everything went (Arkansas) he should have just held tight for awhile.
He's also created some bad vibes in "social situations" around Madison. Put those two together, he was smart to leverage his success into another P5 job.
I agree, with "stuck it out" with the added caveat of "until another Big Ten job opened up". Bret was a fool for going to the SEC, especially a trap program like Arkansas (high alumni expectations, low ceiling). Terrible fit!
Bret always should have left Wisconsin for the Illinois job, and he should have gone for it when it first came open at then end of 2012, or when it came open again in 2015/2016. They would have backed up the $$$ truck to hire him either of those times. Instead they got him for cheap (relatively speaking) in 2021.
Even if this is only for a year or 2 this is a really good hire for Illinois.
Yes, that's an interesting detail. Can't coach on the sideline, can't recruit.
Sounds like a good "stay active and get paid" role until he's offered a DC or HC position that he wants.
I respectfully disagree. BB can coach! His picking up Leonard this year (I’ll has a ton of defense to replace) is just what he needs. If really think folks underestimate BB….I’
d love for him to bring his tattooed ankle to IC as a coach someday.
You’ll have to wait a while then, as per his words at Big Ten Media Days he signed his new contract with a non-compete clause within the Big Ten.
Well, so be it…..but I still like BB as fb coach. I thought it interesting that Barry saw something in him, too.
Lots of bad experiments in Arkansas….not limited to football. The guy can coach. Other than Frank Broyles, tell me who has had consistent football success there?
