"His football IQ is on another level" - Illinois' Bret Bielema discusses Jim Leonhard's addition

Illinois coach Bret Bielema announced on Tuesday that the program had enlisted Jim Leonhard as a senior football analyst. Leonhard comes on board after serving as the defensive coordinator for Big Ten West rival Wisconsin Badgers for the last six seasons.

Bielema lauded Leonhard's technical brilliance and is excited about what he can bring to the Fighting Illini this season. Bielema has known Leonhard since the 2004 season, Bielema’s first as the Badgers’ defensive coordinator. Leonhard was a senior safety that season, which was his third as an All-American for the former walk-on.

“Jimmy's football IQ was at a different level," Bielema said. "I first met with him as a player when I was a defensive coordinator. I remember I walked out of that meeting just like, 'Wow, this guy sees the game extremely well'. And then to be with him as a coordinator and him as our starting safety. He just had some presence and awareness of the game."

Bret Bielema said former Wisconsin coach and athletic director Barry Alvarez told him how exceptional Leonhard was.

“Coach Alvarez talked about how good he was, and then when I saw Paul [Chryst] promote him to coordinator and saw the way they started playing in my first year especially, it was just very impressive, what they did schematically," Bielema said. "And I knew that he was kind of the main key there."

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Jim Leonhard's route to Bret Bielema's Illinois team

After the dismissal of Paul Chryst on Oct. 2, 2022, Jim Leonhard assumed the role of interim coach for Wisconsin. He led the team for the final eight games of the season and was a candidate under consideration for the permanent coach position.

However, the Wisconsin Badgers hired Luke Fickell from Cincinnati as their permanent coach. Leonhard was reportedly in line for the Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator role after Jonathan Gannon left to take the Arizona Cardinals coach job. After speaking with the franchise front office, the former New York Jets safety eventually withdrew from consideration.

This presented a golden opportunity to Bret Bielema and the Fighting Illini. The coach and the program believe Leonhard has a lot to offer in his new role.