<p>MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard says he has unfinished business at his alma mater and wouldn’t have felt right leaving after a pandemic-shortened season, even for an opportunity as tempting as his home state’s NFL team.</p>
<p>Leonhard was a prime candidate for the Green Bay Packers’ defensive coordinator position and <a href="https://madison.com/wsj/sports/college/football/jim-leonhard-turns-down-packers-offer-says-hes-staying-with-badgers/article_854c0a50-7831-5f70-beb4-248f26f63722.html"> had been offered the job</a> according to <a href="https://www.packersnews.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2021/02/06/green-bay-packers-wisconsins-jim-leonhard-turns-down-dc-offer/4419287001/">multiple reports.</a> but opted to return for a sixth season on Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst’s staff. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-tampa-bay-buccaneers-football-detroit-lions-green-bay-packers-ce4fdbbdb9d7108ed730a7bc1a17d6fd">The Packers instead hired Joe Barry as defensive coordinator.</a></p>
<p>“I love Madison,” Leonhard said. “To me, there’s some unfinished business with the University of Wisconsin. I love this group of kids and want to continue to develop them. With COVID being the way it was last year, I’d have felt a specific way about myself having left after that season.”</p>
<p>Leonhard aimed high as he specified the nature of his unfinished business at Wisconsin, which opened spring practice this week.</p>
<p>“I came here wanting to win a national championship, I came here wanting to win the Big Ten as a player,” said Leonhard, who played safety for the Badgers from 2001-04 before starting a <a href="https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LeonJi23.htm">10-year NFL career. </a> “Nothing’s changed as a coach. We haven’t done that since I’ve been back. The goals haven’t changed. I feel like we have a group that can accomplish that.”</p>
<p>Wisconsin struggled to a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-football-charlotte-wisconsin-collin-wilder-sam-hartman-0a9ab618b8adf9b25a97c1d9da07c2f4">4-3 record</a> last year but ranked <a href="http://cfbstats.com/2020/leader/national/team/defense/split01/category10/sort01.html">fifth nationally in total defense</a> and <a href="http://cfbstats.com/2020/leader/national/team/defense/split01/category09/sort01.html">ninth in scoring defense. </a> Wisconsin has finished in the top five in total defense and top 10 in total defense in three of Leonhard’s four seasons as defensive coordinator.</p>
<p>Leonhard acknowledged the Green Bay situation was particularly enticing.</p>
<p>“They’re right on the fringe of a Super Bowl and have been for a while now,” Leonhard said. “Definitely a difficult decision to have to make.”</p>
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