Late January isn’t a very exciting time for most students at UW, as most are feeling the harsh effects of the freezing cold temperatures and dreading the long semester that lies ahead. This was not the case for Ron Lee, who in late January was being hired as the new defensive-backs coach for the Badger football team.
Head football coach Barry Alvarez is very pleased that coach Lee is now a part of the Wisconsin Badger family.
“I’m excited that Ron is joining our staff; I saw him coach first-hand several years ago during a visit to Colorado State, and he impressed me then,” Alverez said. “He has a solid background and knowledge of the game. We’re fortunate he will be joining us.”
In researching coach Lee’s previous collegiate playing and coaching credentials, it becomes obvious that wherever coach Lee goes, he wins.
Lee, who grew up in Tulare, Calif., played defensive back for Washington State University from 1985-1988. After receiving his degree in child and family studies in 1989, he traveled south to the University of Miami, where he coached for two years as a graduate assistant.
During his first year at Miami, the Hurricanes claimed the national championship. The nest season, his second and final season at Miami, the Hurricanes finished second in the nation.
He was part of five conference titles at Colorado State and one conference title at both Portland State and University of Idaho. Lee served as the defensive-backs coach at San Jose State University before being hired here in Madison.
Lee will not only provide valuable regular-season experience but postseason experience as well. He has coached in seven bowl games and played in one. Coach Lee’s vast knowledge of the game will be an extremely important asset to UW’s defensive attack when the Badgers take the field this fall.
“It’s been a very smooth transition, from learning the defense to the family moving out; I feel that everything has gone very smoothly,” Lee said. “We’re just looking forward to staying healthy for the rest of the spring and getting ready to go when it counts in August.”
Besides the everyday faces and names of senior Ryan Aiello and juniors Scott Starks and Jim Leonard, the Badgers will have some fairly new faces in the defensive backfield this fall. “There has been a lot of competition amongst the guys so far, which has allowed guys like Robert Brooks and Dontez Sanders to show what they can do, and it’s given me a chance to look at all of our defensive backs closer,” Lee said. “Every day they are pushing each other to get better, and that’s what you want to see as a coach.”
Last year, the Badgers’ defense gave up an average of 235.5 passing yards per game. Lee hopes to improve upon this number next season, and the performance of coach Lee’s defensive backs will be instrumental to the team’s overall success next fall.
With numerous weapons on the offensive side of the ball, the main question mark for the Badgers in the upcoming season is going to be whether or not their defense is going to be able to stop teams effectively and consistently. If the Badgers want to climb back to the top of the Big Ten standings and start making annual trips to Pasadena again, the defense is going to have to step it up and shut other teams down when it counts, a challenge coach Lee is excited to take part of.
“You’re going to see a group of kids that are going to play hard, tackle hard, and when that ball is in the air, we are going to go up and get it,” coach Lee said. “Our goal is to be the best secondary in the Big Ten.”
If coach Lee’s previous coaching success is any indication, the future of the Badgers’ defense is in good hands.