Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell provides update on defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard

Wisconsin Badgers‘ head coach Luke Fickell provided an update on the status of longtime Badgers defensive coordinator, Jim Leonhard, on Sunday. Fickell noted on Sunday that he’s offered him a spot on the Wisconsin staff for the 2023 season, but Leonhard has yet to make a decision. “I definitely opened the door for Jim to be here,” Fickell said. “He’s trying to weigh the options.”

Luke Fickell said he wasn’t trying to “overtake” Leonhard

Jim Leonhard was a popular man in Madison, leading the Wisconsin program as the interim head coach down the stretch of the 2022 season. Even when he was the defensive coordinator, players loved him, and many wanted the interim tag taken off. Instead, Luke Fickell was brought in and will have some relationships to build.

When asked how he is going to go about connecting with the players after Leonhard was the one many people wanted, Fickell said being authentic is the key. He also admitted relationships will be built overnight, as some buy-in will be needed over time. The process began the moment he was hired.

“You just got to be yourself,” Fickell said. “You got to be authentic. You got to be real. And it takes time. The unique thing that I think I got is that I was in the position and I had a great relationship with guys just like Jim has. While young men are emotional, they are also resilient. I have the utmost respect for however things move forward. Whatever is best for them, they will do.”

Something Fickell harped on was not trying to “overtake” Leonhard. Fickell’s son is going through something similar at Cincinnati as well, putting the head coach in a relatable position as his new Wisconsin players.

“Building a relationship is a big deal,” said Fickell. “It’s not trying to overtake somebody else’s relationship which I am not trying to do. Even that relationship with Jim — those are all things that make it difficult. I got a son back in Cincinnati that is in a similar situation… That’s what life is. Life is about continuing to grow. So, that’s the message I’ve had with these guys. I’m not trying to overtake them but here to grow a relationship with them.”

On3’s Griffin McVeigh also contributed to this article.