By james art 
Illinois head coach Brett Bielema said he was in close contact with former Wisconsin coaches Paul Chryst and Jim Leonhardt during the last winter transfer window.
In a press conference Sunday, Bielema explained his pursuit of three key former Wisconsin transfers: linebackers James Thompson Jr. and Kurt Neal and outside linebacker Leon Lowery. All three committed to Illinois after weighing other transfer interests
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Both Neal and Thompson Jr. were Chryst recruits in the classes of 2022 and 2020, respectively. Each played under Wisconsin’s longtime head coach before choosing to stay with the program for the first two years of the Luke Fickle era. Each of them then entered the portal after the 2024 campaign was completed.
Neal has been arguably the Badgers’ best defender over the last few seasons, totaling 42 tackles, five for loss and 1/2 sack. Meanwhile, Thompson Jr. held that title in 2023 before missing most of the 2024 season. due to injury.
Each figure will now lead an Illinois defense coached by defensive coordinator Aaron Henry (Wisconsin DB from 2007-11) and defensive line coach Terrance Jamison (former Wisconsin DL).
Leonhardt just finished the 2024 NFL season as the second head coach of the Denver Broncos. Chryst, meanwhile, was out of coaching last season after spending 2023. as an offensive analyst at Texas.
The Wisconsin connection still exists for Bielema, Chryst and Leonhardt, as well as those two former Badgers on the Illinois staff. The fighting Illini prioritizing several former Badgers in the portal shows that reality. Over the years, Bielema’s Illinois program has increasingly resembled Wisconsin, where he coached from 2006-12.
Luke Fickle and Wisconsin will host Illinois on Nov. 22 next season. It will be a rematch of the Badgers’ 25-21 road win over the Fighting Illini in 2023.
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