![]() We want to make sure we eliminated that in every capacity, whether that’s coach to player, coach to coach, the messaging coming from the building. We let some things slip a little bit and just a little bit of gray. football Column: Jim Leonhard deserved the job, but Luke Fickell is an elite hire Seamus Rohrer BadgerBlitz Staff seamusrohrer Fickell named HC Madison - In one of the most shocking days in program history, athletic director Chris McIntosh poached Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell to take the Wisconsin football job. We have to get back to doing that a little bit better. “Number one, this place has always been about the culture and the players. “We just have to get back to detailing up the things that need to be done better and that would be a lot of the emphasis going forward. “The foundation on what this place is, and how Wisconsin has won is strong,” Leonhard said. Perhaps some improvements on the recruiting and player development side.Įric Johnson, who spent over a decade as an assistant coach at Iowa, is Wisconsin’s Executive Director of Football Administration, by the way. Leonhard said he didn’t feel massive changes needed to take place at his alma mater. “I would be excited for the opportunity, and it’s fun to get the chance to really affect some change this season, and see what we could get done, knowing that a lot of the big changes that would have to happen are really coming after this season if I were to get this position.” Leonhard was asked at a recent press conference if he feels he’s ready to be a head coach. It’s exciting for me to see all of that.” “It’s been exciting just to see the certain little changes you’ve made and kind of the buy-in of the messaging and the play on the field. “It’s been really exciting for me to see the response of the coaches, of the players,” Leonhard said. You will begin to receive our Weekly Hawkeye updates. “Oh, he’s ready,” Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz said recently. Wisconsin AD Chris McIntosh has committed to making a national search for a permanent head coach, but when it all shakes out, don’t be surprised if that permanent head coach is Leonhard. He has been considered a rising star in the coaching profession, which some have felt was a reason Wisconsin pulled the trigger on Chryst after a 2-3 start.īetter to keep a young up and comer than lose him to someone else, especially within your conference. Leonhard, 38, is a former Badgers player and a successful defensive coordinator. Saturday’s loser certainly will be out of contention. Wisconsin beat Maryland last week, 23-10, to move to 5-4, one win from bowl eligibility and still with a remote shot at the Big Ten Conference West Division championship. They had a couple tough losses a while back, but they're three out of four now and playing with pretty good momentum. “They're just playing at a really good level right now. “I mean, to me they look pretty much the same in all phases,” said Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz. Wisconsin has won three of four games under Leonhard as it heads to Iowa City to play the Iowa Hawkeyes on Saturday afternoon at Kinnick Stadium. But he has steadied what had appeared to be a sinking ship and a sunken season.
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