Jim Leonard – Photo Courtesy of Scout.com
The University of Wisconsin officially announced the hiring of new defensive backs coach Jim Leonard over the weekend.
Leonard played safety for the Badgers from 2001 to 2004 and will take over for Daronte Jones, who left Wisconsin earlier this month to take a job as an assistant defensive backs coach with the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.
Leonard started his career at Wisconsin as a walk-on in 2001. He went on to earn All-Big Ten honors three times. He matched UW’s school record with 21 interceptions during his career.
Leonard went on to play ten seasons in the NFL with six teams. He retired after the 2014 season and comes to Madison without any previous coaching experience.
Leonard becomes the third assistant coach to have played for the Badgers, joining offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph and tight ends coach Mickey Turner.