McIntosh, Fickell praise Leonhard after former interim Badgers coach announces he’s leaving UW
MADISON, Wis. — Following the news that Jim Leonhard will be leaving the Badgers after this month’s bowl game, UW athletic director Chris McIntosh and newly hired head coach Luke Fickell praised the defensive coordinator for his work with the team.
Leonhard announced Tuesday night on Twitter that he’s leaving the Badgers following the team’s appearance in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl against Oklahoma State on Dec. 27.
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In a statement posted by the football team’s Twitter account Wednesday afternoon, McIntosh said Leonhard “will forever be a Badger.”
“He has made us proud at every turn, as a player, as a coach, as an ambassador for our program,” McIntosh said. “As interim head coach, he navigated extremely difficult circumstances over the last two months of this season, always putting our players first and helping them through a trying time in their lives. For that, we owe him our gratitude.”
Fickell, who the Badgers announced on Nov. 27 would take over the program, praised Leonhard as “the epitome of what we want this program to be about, selfless, hard-working, passionate.”
“After our discussions, it was decided it was best for all of us to come to this conclusion,” Fickell said. “I admire Jim as a coach and as a person and I look forward to following his successes in the future.”
RELATED: Leonhard leaving marks a new era of Badger football. For now.
Leonhard, who took over following Paul Chryst’s firing in early October, led the Badgers to a 4-3 conclusion to their regular season. His next steps remain unclear.
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