Wisconsin Badgers: Jim Leonhard joined Paul Chryst’s staff at his alma mater as defensive backs coach in February 2016.
In his year off between retiring from the NFL and becoming DB coach for the Badgers, Leonhard studied college film with then-Wisconsin Defensive Coordinator Dave Aranda. He used that time to gain a better understanding of schemes that exist in college football that are not prevalent in the NFL, such as zone-read option offenses.
When Wisconsin hired Luke Fickell as head coach in November 2022, Leonhard announced that he would leave the program at the end of the 2022 football season.
Illinois announced on July 25, 2023 that Leonhard would be hired as a senior football analyst. That is the role he is currently in. However, that could change in the near future.
Former Wisconsin Badgers Coach Jim Leonhard Suddenly Linked To Significant SEC Coaching Job

According to Dillon Graff of Badgers Notes:
Being facetious aside, Missouri is the latest school that’s mentioned Leonhard as an outside candidate that media members feel would make sense to replace former defensive coordinator Blake Baker, who left to take the same gig at LSU this offseason.
Head coach Eli Drinkwitz has the program on the rise and is coming off an 11-win season in the SEC. Would Leonhard consider joining Missouri as a defensive coordinator after a year of working as an analyst at Illinois?
When the Wisconsin Badgers athletic department opted to hire Luke Fickell instead of promoting Jim Leonhard from the interim role, it allowed him to regroup and plot the next move for himself and his family.
In the meantime, he took a defensive analyst role under Bret Bielema because it kept him involved in the game while allowing Leonhard to be home with his family during the weekends.
Would Leonhard Consider Not Taking A Head Coaching Job?

Multiple rumors out there suggest that Jim Leonhard has already passed up opportunities at USC, Michigan State, Penn State, and countless others the public is not aware of. It is likely that Leonhard wants a head coaching position or to coach defense in the NFL.
He’s one of the country’s youngest and most respected defensive minds after an impressive run with the Wisconsin Badgers from 2017-22.
It’s unlikely that Leonhard would gain anything from a job like Missouri at this point in his career.
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