CONTENTS FEBRUARY 24, 2016 ■ VOLUME 6, ISSUE 28 FEATURE STORY JOHN FISHER / CAL SPORT MEDIA JOHN FISHER / CAL SPORT IN THE SWING OF THINGS Much like UW’s offense, Bronson Koenig’s game had stagnated early in the season. Rather than folding, he and his teammates adjusted to new wrinkles and found a new way forward. FEATURES MEN’S HOCKEY IN [FOCUS] NO TIME TO WASTE The week's best photos Just 18, Matt Jurusik didn’t shy away BEHIND THE DESK GREG ANDERSON from becoming Wisconsin’s starting Alumni an asset to Badgers goaltender. The opportunity is what drew him to UW in the first place. THE VOICE Builders always welcome BY THE NUMBERS LUCAS AT LARGE Facts and figures on UW MENTORS LEFT MARK WHAT TO WATCH Where to catch the Badgers Wisconsin’s new defensive backs ICON SPORTSWIRE coach is proudly a product of his ex­ ASK THE BADGERS periences ― and Jim Leonhard had Who would you challenge? plenty over a 10-year NFL career. BADGERING-SCROLL FOR MORE­ Matt Hutchins (M. Swimming) Wisconsin Athletic Communications Kellner Hall, 1440 Monroe St., Madison, WI 53711 VIEW ALL ISSUES Brian Lucas Director of Athletic Communications Julia Hujet Editor/Designer Brian Mason Managing Editor Mike Lucas Senior Writer Andy Baggot Writer Matt Lepay Columnist Chris Hall, Jerry Mao Video Production Amy Eager Advertising Drew Pittner-Smith Distribution Contributors Paul Capobianco, Tam Flarup, Kelli Grashel, A.J. Harrison, Brandon Harrison, Patrick Herb, Diane Nordstrom Photography David Stluka, Neil Ament, Greg Anderson, Bob Campbell, Steve Gotter, Cal Sport Media, Icon Sportswire Cover Photo: David Stluka Problems or Accessibility Issues? [email protected] © 2016 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. All rights reserved worldwide. LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ■ UWBADGERS.COM Long list of mentors left mark on Leonhard DAVID STLUKA DAVID roy Vincent. Lawyer Milloy. care of my body and all the off­ be former Wisconsin All-Ameri­ Nate Clements. London the-field stuff as well. There’s a can offensive tackle Joe Thom­ TFletcher. Takeo Spikes. reason why you play that long as, who has gone to nine Pro Ray Lewis. Terrell Spikes. Haloti in the NFL and they were more Bowls in nine seasons with the Ngata. Ed Reed. Derrick Mason. than willing to show the way on Cleveland Browns. Thomas and Darrelle Revis. Peyton Manning. how to do that.” Leonhard were teammates with Chris Harris. Von Miller. Joe Leonhard had two tours of duty the Badgers and, more recently, Thomas. Karlos Dansby. Rex with the Bills along with stints as with the Browns during the 2014 Ryan. Mike Pettine. Jim O’Neil. a safety and punt return special­ season. Chuck Pagano, et al. ist with the Baltimore Ravens, “Joe is on a long list of guys Wisconsin’s new defensive New York Jets, Denver Broncos that I’ve played with that does backs coach, Jim Leonhard, has and Cleveland Browns. What things the right way, day-in and a long short list. bodes well for him in his first day-out,” Leonhard said. “It’s not Throughout his 10-year NFL teaching assignment as a coach a shock when you’re around him career, he was impacted by is all the knowledge that he col­ every day on why he’s that good. teammates, head coaches and lected as a player. Yes, he has physical ability. But defensive coordinators. Leon­ “Not only was I surrounded by it’s everything else that makes hard’s first stop as an undrafted a ton of talent,” said Leonhard, him an All-Pro.” free agent was in Buffalo where who had 427 tackles and 14 Leonhard always felt privileged he was influenced by the sec­ picks in 142 career games, “but to be in the company of great­ ondary starters: Vincent, the for­ you’d see guys with the whole ness and for having been ex­ mer Badgers cornerback; Milloy package, the mindset, the work posed to industrious players like and Clements. ethic. That’s what makes them Thomas. “You can’t help but be­ “Big-time veterans, just real truly special. They’re willing to come better by seeing it,” he said professionals,” Leonhard said. put in the work and not just rely of Thomas’ total commitment to “They taught me how to play the on their talent.” his profession. “And you try and game the right way, how to take Falling in that category would take that mindset with you.” LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 1 OF 2 LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ■ UWBADGERS.COM “NOT ONLY WAS I SURROUNDED BY A TON OF TALENT, BUT YOU’D SEE GUYS WITH THE WHOLE PACKAGE, THE MINDSET, THE WORK ETHIC,” LEONHARD SAID. “THAT’S WHAT MAKES THEM TRULY SPECIAL.” Obviously, he succeeded be­ cause NFL coaches recognized Leonhard’s value in this context. “Rex was probably my favorite Leonhard’s narrative has in­ there are so many different ways head coach to play for just be­ spired others to travel that same to get it done. cause he gave me my first real path to Wisconsin ― just as he “There’s no ideal height, weight, chance to start in the league,” was inspired by Jason Doering, speed. Obviously, the bigger, he said of the loquacious Ryan, a two-time captain (1999-2000) faster combination is ideal. But who toiled 22 years as an assis­ and a former walk-on out of I can’t say that I want you to be tant before getting his first head Rhinelander. Doering was a big 6-3, 215. That would be selling coaching job. “He’s a guy who bopper at safety and leading myself (5-8, 188) short. It’s about cares about his players. His big tackler three straight years in the instincts; the around-the-ball-type thing is trust. secondary. of guy; that kid that always finds a “He doesn’t care what you look “When I was really getting in­ way to be successful.” like or where you came from ― terested in Wisconsin football What about the corners? high draft pick, low draft pick, growing up,” said Leonhard, “to “Cornerback is a little bit differ­ free agent. If you can perform on see that from him every Saturday ent,” Leonhard said. “There’s so Sundays, he’s going to get you on ― the energy and the passion much more technique that you the field somehow. You realized that he played with ― meant a lot have to play ― just the compet­ if you put in the work and did the to me. It gave me that example itiveness of it ― because you’re right things, you were going to that ‘I can do it.’ There were not out there on an island playing get rewarded for it.” many bigger hitters than him in your own little game. It’s going Leonhard can directly speak the program.” to be fun for me to coach both to the reward ― a scholarship ― If Leonhard could build the positions. that every college walk-on is seek­ “perfect” safety, what qualities “Obviously, I have a lot of in­ ing. His name is among those would he have? side knowledge on playing safety on a special wall display outside “It all starts with communica­ and making plays there. But I’ve of the Wisconsin locker room tion and having some pre-snap been around some of the best in Camp Randall Stadium. The awareness,” he said. “It’s a posi­ corners to ever do it (Revis Is­ board celebrates the history and tion where you can not only cov­ land, for one) and I’ve picked up achievements of UW walk-ons. er up people’s mistakes but you so many things from them and I “It means a lot to me,” Leon­ can prevent them from happen­ would love to pass them on.” hard said, “to be a part of that ing if you have that awareness. Influencing them like others group.” As far as physical attributes, have influenced him. ■ LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 2 OF 2 BEHIND THE DESK BY BARRY ALVAREZ ■ UW DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS Alumni an asset for athletic department egardless of where you secondary coach. He had great players some time off. I think go, if you talk to someone respect throughout his NFL ca­ some people abuse it. There’s Rwith fundraising or strength reer as a player and the reputa­ a lot of conversation right now and conditioning; someone with tion of being a coach on the field. about doing right by student-ath­ the administration or the football He can now share his experi­ letes. Some coaches feel like staff, you’re hearing the same ences as a pro athlete and as one they’re missing out on something message. of our former student-athletes. or getting shortchanged ― or You have people in the weight The same holds true for two oth­ someone is going to get an edge room that understand how the er recent hires: Chris McIntosh, on them ― if they’re not grinding program was built and how we our new Associate Athletic Direc­ their athletes. have to sustain it. And you hear tor for Business Development, These are some of the same it from a number of different and John Stocco, a director in coaches who feel like they have coaches who went through it. our Athletic Development Office. to spend all night in the office You are also hearing it from I’ve always been impressed breaking down film or drawing up administrators who are communi­ with Chris. As an athlete, an plays.