Former Badger Jim Leonhard joins Paul Chryst's coaching staff
Former All-Big Ten safety set to return to his alma mater after a 10-year NFL career
MADISON, Wis. - Former Wisconsin safety Jim Leonhard will join Paul Chryst's coaching staff as the team's defensive backs coach, according to a report by FootballScoop.com.
Leonhard is set to replace Daronte' Jones, who left for a similar position with the Miami Dolphins in early February after coaching the Badgers' defensive backs for one season.
“I'm very appreciative to have Jim join our coaching staff,” head coach Paul Chryst said in a release. “I'm excited for our players and coaches to be able to work with him and learn from him. What makes Jim special is his desire to teach, to help young men grow and to develop them to reach their full potential. He has a tremendous love and appreciation for the University of Wisconsin and our football program."
Leonhard's return to his alma mater, where he played from 2001-2005, is his first step into the world of coaching after he spent 10 seasons in the NFL from 2005 to 2014.
A three-time All-Big Ten selection for the Badgers, Leonhard went undrafted in 2005, but signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent. He finished his career in 2014 after playing for six different teams, racking up 428 total tackles and 14 interceptions in the process.
Leonhard will hit the ground running with the Badgers, who open spring camp in mid-March and need to replace three starters from last year's defensive backfield, which helped the Badgers finish No. 7 in pass defense in 2015. Sojourn Shelton is set to return for his senior season at cornerback, but the Badgers will need to replace both starting safeties after Michael Caputo and Tanner McEvoy exhausted their eligibility.
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John Veldhuis covers Wisconsin football, basketball and recruiting for BadgerBlitz.com on the Rivals.com network. Follow him on Twitter at @JohnVeldhuis.