Jim Leonhard Listed on Hot Board for SEC Coaching Vacancy

Death, taxes, Wisconsin Badgers legend Jim Leonhard being mentioned for an open defensive coordinator job, and that school thinking they’re the best option for him to break back into the coaching world. 

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? 

Wisconsin Badgers Legend Jim Leonhard on Everyone’s Wish List

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.

Somehow, this “gap year” Leonhard has taken has, in my opinion, distorted the value this man has on the open market. With all due respect, Missouri is a program trending in the right direction, but this job doesn’t seem like a logical fit for the former Wisconsin Badgers standout.

To our knowledge, Jim Leonhard has already passed up opportunities at USC, Michigan State, Penn State, and countless others we aren’t privy to hearing about. Rumors are that Leonhard wants a head coaching position or to coach defense in the NFL.

As one of the country’s youngest and most respected defensive minds from his impressive run with the Wisconsin Badgers from 2017-22, he’s positioned himself to pick and choose.

I’m doubtful that Leonhard views a job like Missouri as a spot where he would have anything to gain at this point in his career, but I’ve been wrong before.