Chris McIntosh named Jim Leonard the interim head coach of the Wisconsin football team on Sunday night, following the Badgers 34-10 loss to Illinois on Saturday at Camp Randall.
He replaces Paul Chryst, who led the Badgers to a 67-26 record, including a 43-18 mark in the Big Ten Conference. A two-time Big Ten Coach of the Year, Chryst piloted UW to three Big Ten West Division crowns. His 6-1 mark in bowl games included a pair of new Year’s Six victories.
Leonard was a three-time All-American as a safety at Wisconsin, tying the school record with 21 career interceptions. He also broke the Big Ten record with 1,347 career punt return yards. He went undrafted, but put together a 10-year NFL career with Buffalo, Baltimore, the New York Jets, Denver, New Orleans and Cleveland. He is in his 7th season on Wisconsin’s coaching staff, including his 6th as Defensive Coordinator.
Here’s Chris McIntosh announcing the move
More on the decision to fire Paul Chryst
The job goes to Jim Leonhard for the rest of the season
