Jim Leonhard wants dynamic special teams at Wisconsin but is unsure if a dedicated coach is needed
MADISON – Jim Leonhard understands the importance of special teams.
Eighteen seasons after his final game at Wisconsin, Leonhard still holds the program record for punt return yards (1,347), is second in all-time average per return (12.8 yards) and is tied for second in punt return touchdowns (three).
“It has to (affect) games and it has to be there week in and week out,” he said. “You can’t have a dip in that area.”
UW’s special teams did not perform well overall in the 24-10 loss to Iowa and have been a mixed bag this season.
Punter Andy Vujnovich is 10th in the Big Ten with a 43.8-yard average but UW is 12th in the league in net average (37.5 yards).
Isaac Guerendo has boosted the kickoff-return unit with a 23.9-yard average, the No. 3 mark in the league.
Dean Engram is only ninth in the league on punt returns, however, with a 4.4-yard average.
Iowa blocked one punt to set up its first touchdown and Cooper DeJean averaged 20.5 yards on four returns compared to Engram’s 6.0-yard average.
UW is fifth in the league in kickoff coverage with a net average of 43.1 yards but just 12th in the league in field-goal percentage at .636 (7 of 11), though redshirt freshman Nate Van Zelst has performed well (6 of 8) since taking over the job.
Leonhard is certain having dynamic special teams is a must. However, he isn’t sure having a dedicated special teams coach is a requirement.
Chris Haering was the special teams coach from 2015 through last season, but Paul Chryst decided to reconfigure the staff and spread the responsibilities among the staff entering this season.
“I would say in the last couple years it has been unique in how a lot of staffs are handling it,” said Leonhard, who was named interim head coach Oct. 2. “With the larger staff numbers and how you’ve been able to dedicate more offseason time to get the planning down, there’s been a number of teams that have not had a special teams coach. Whereas in the past you always had one.
”I think it’s something that we’ll evaluate very hard going forward. The No. 1 thing is: You have to have a dynamic special teams unit. Whatever it takes. So, if that is a full-time position, that is the right decision to make.”
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin interim coach Jim Leonhard wants dynamic special teams
