But in the end his faith in the team and the way the side played swayed him to sign on for another three seasons with the Highlanders.
"There were options ... I did do a pros and cons on what was good for me and my coaching future but it is not only that,'' MCleod said.
"They is also family and my life down here. And also the way we play down here. That tipped it, really. People we work with here, the way we play the game.''
"I got an offer for a head coach's role in Japan and also with national team. So they were there. But it was not really sleepless nights. It was about just going through the process.
"It was taking a little time, go with your gut feel, and then week after week you're having to play. My kids have all settled in really well down here ... my wife is really happy. That is a massive thing for us.
"As a coach, you have your own aspirations but I'm only one of six in my family. So the decision has to be with them, too. We sat down and talked a lot. Some weeks we were going and some weeks we were staying but with time the gut feel come into play.''
McLeod (43) said he never applied for the head coaching role, feeling he was not ready for that position yet.
Brought up in Thames Valley, he played for Waikato and the Chiefs but he appears to have found his home in Dunedin and said people had opened up to him.
"The first thing when you come down and see is that there is opportunity. When you get here, people are really warm and embracing, they want you to do well and they'll support you. They'll take time to build relationships but once you get that under your belt, you feel part of the place.
"It's not an obligation but you really want to do well for the place.
"It's not easy coming somewhere where you haven't been established. So I had to start again, really. Jamie challenged a few of us quite hard: you do not know these people, it is not your community, what are you going to do to hold them and bind them? And I have tried to do that for last three years.''
McLeod said he enjoyed working with new head coach Tony Brown, each challenging the other to be innovative around the game.
He would continue to stay as defence coach for the side, something he enjoyed.
"Most of the kudos goes to the attack in terms of being smart and clever. But if you have a defence which can nullify that and still have attitude ... it is organised chaos, really, mixed with aggression.''
Scott McLeod
At a glance
• Aged 43
• Married to Dana
• Children Quin (12), Lucan (10), Safia (8), Cohen (5)10 tests for All Blacks, 1996-98
• Played in Japan for Toshiba
• Coached at Waikato and Chiefs
• Joined Highlanders in 2013
