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Leonhard named Badgers’ defensive coordinator (AUDIO)

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Jim Leonard coaching his players during practice at Green Bay’s Don Hutson Center.

The Wisconsin Badger football team has hired former Badger standout Jim Leonhard as the teams new Defensive Coordinator, replacing Justin Wilcox, who took the head coaching job at California after just one season in Madison.

Leonhard served as Wisconsin’s defensive backs coach last season and his impact on the Badgers’ secondary was immediate.  His unit was instrumental in the Badgers collecting 22 interceptions, a total that ranked second in the FBS.  It marked Wisconsin’s highest output since 2002, when Leonhard himself recorded a school-record 11 of UW’s 22 picks.

The secondary contributed to an overall effort that saw the Badgers finish the season ranked fourth nationally in scoring defense (15.6 ppg), seventh in total defense (301.4 yards per game), third in rushing defense (98.8 yards per game) and tenth in passing efficiency defense (106.9). [Read more…]

Wilcox hired as California’s next head coach

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Justin Wilcox

Wisconsin Badger football coach Paul Chryst is looking for a new defensive coordinator today after California officially announced the hiring of Wisconsin’s Justin Wilcox as their new head coach.  Wilcox is expected to be formally introduced at a news conference on Tuesday.  He coached linebackers at Cal from 2003-’05.

Wilcox replaces Sonny Dykes, who was fired just over a week ago.

“I couldn’t be more excited to become head football coach at the University of California,” Wilcox said in a statement.  “It has been a dream of mine to lead a college football program and there’s no better place than here at Cal where I got my start and at a school that means too much to me.” [Read more…]

Wilcox a finalist for head coaching job at California

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Justin Wilcox

Wisconsin Badgers defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox is reportedly in contract negotiations with California to become the Golden Bears next head football coach.

Head coach Sonny Dykes was fired Sunday and Wilcox is a finalist for the position, along with Cal interim coach Jake Spavital.

Wilcox is a former assistant at Cal, coaching linebackers from 2003-’05.  He first interviewed for the position this week.

The 40-year-old Wilcox just finished his first season as Wisconsin’s defensive coordinator, leading the Badgers to a fourth place national ranking in points allowed and a seventh place finish overall.

If Wilcox gets the job at Cal, it would leave Wisconsin looking for a third defensive coordinator in the last three years.

Wilcox is scheduled to be paid $950,000 by UW in 2017.  He would receive $100,000 more if he is still on the staff in January.

 

Badgers finish 9th in final college football AP Poll

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Justin Wilcox

The Wisconsin Badgers finished 9th in the final Associated Press Top 25 College Football poll, released on Tuesday.

Wisconsin finished in the AP top 10 for the 13th time in their history, but the first time since 2011.  They closed the season with a Cotton Bowl victory over Western Michigan and finished 11-3.

Ramczyk headed for the NFL

Redshirt junior left tackle Ryan Ramczyk announced that he will enter the 2017 NFL draft, joining fellow junior T.J. Watt in giving up his final year of eligibility for the draft.

Ramczyk is projected to go in the first round of the draft, which is set to take place April 27-29 in Philadelphia. [Read more…]

Badger defensive backs have a tall order (AUDIO)

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Wisconsin assistant coach Jim Leonard

Wisconsin assistant coach Jim Leonard

The Wisconsin Badgers and LSU Tigers will open the 2016 college football season Saturday afternoon at Lambeau Field.

The number one defensive issue for the Badger defense is LSU running back Leonard Fournette.  Fournette broke more tackles than any running back in all of college football last season.

While the Wisconsin secondary will have to provide run support on Fournette and the Tigers ground game, they have an issue of their own.

The starting Wisconsin secondary stands 5’10, 5’10, 5’9 and 5’11.  Cornerback Sojourn Shelton is a veteran in the Badger secondary, having started 37 games.  But he stands 5’9 and weights 168 pounds. [Read more…]

Wilcox compensation figures released

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Justin Wilcox

Justin Wilcox

Wisconsin’s new Defensive Coordinator Justin Wilcox will earn $1.45 million over the next two years.  His compensation package was released to the Wisconsin State Journal on Thursday via an open records request.

Wilcox’s base salary is $300,000.  He’ll earn additional compensation that will pay him $200,000 in his first year and $650,000 in the second.  Wilcox will also receive a $100,000 retention payment if he’s still with the team on January 1, 2018.

Former defensive coordinator Dave Aranda made $520,000 in his final year with the Badgers in 2014.

UW also released the compensation package for new defensive backs coach Jim Leonard.  The former Badger safety will earn $225,000 in his first season as coach.

Wisconsin makes Wilcox hiring official

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Justin Wilcox

Justin Wilcox

The University of Wisconsin announced Thursday that Justin Wilcox has been hired as the Badgers new defensive coordinator, pending approval by the UW Board of Regents.

The 39-year-old Wilcox replaces Dave Aranda, who left after the Holiday Bowl to run LSU’s defense.

Wilcox was among four assistants fired at USC by head coach Clay Helton after the Trojans suffered a 41-22 loss to Stanford in the Pac-12 title game.

Wilcox has been a defensive coordinator for 10 seasons, spending time with Boise State, Tennessee, Washington and USC.

Wisconsin set to hire new defensive coordinator

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Motion WFormer U-S-C defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox is reportedly about to take the same job at the University of Wisconsin.

Several media outlets say Wilcox is finalizing a contract with UW.  Football-Scoop-Dot-Com says he has met with the Badgers’ entire defensive staff, and one possible recruit.

The 39-year-old Wilcox ran the U-S-C defense for the last two years before coach Clay Helton fired him and three other assistants in December after a 41-22 loss to Stanford in the Pac-12 championship game.

Wilcox would replace Dave Aranda, who led the nation’s second-best defense in Madison last season before leaving to become L-S-U’s defensive coordinator.

The Badger post was reported offered to University of Houston defensive coordinator Todd Orlando, who eventually decided to stay put.