Minnesota extends contract for head coach P.J. Fleck

The University of Minnesota and head football coach P.J. Fleck agreed to a new seven-year contract, the program announced on Wednesday. The new deal will keep Fleck in Maroon and Gold through the 2028 season.

Fleck and the Gophers are on a four-game winning streak and earned a No. 20 billing in the first reveal of the College Football Playoff rankings. The high ranking came as a surprise to some after Minnesota took a loss to sub-.500 Bowling Green several weeks ago. The Golden Gophers still have Illinois, No. 19 Iowa, Indiana and Wisconsin on the schedule.

Fleck, formerly the head coach at Western Michigan, is 32-21 overall at Minnesota. The team is 24-10 in his last 34 games leading the Gophers.   

In his fifth season, Fleck is 10th already in school history in games coached (53) and sixth in wins (32). Fleck’s .603 winning percentage is third-best among the 11 Minnesota coaches with at least 45 games at the helm, trailing only Henry L. Williams (.786, 1900-21) and Bernie Bierman (.716, 1932-41, ’45-50).

In his ninth season as a college head coach, Fleck is 62-43 overall and has been named the Big Ten Coach of the Year once and the Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year twice.

Fleck, Coyle comment on contract extension

P.J. Fleck has coached Minnesota to a school-record seven Big Ten wins in a single season (2019). He has also had the Gophers ranked as high as No. 7 in the AP Poll and No. 8 in the College Football Playoffs. The head coach shared his thoughts after signing the deal.

“This is home,” Fleck said. “Our family loves it here and we are excited to continue this journey at the University of Minnesota. From day one, we talked about cultural sustainability and how important it is to building a successful football program and life program. Today is another step in that process. This new contract is a commitment to our elite staff and the entire state of Minnesota.

“Heather and I are so thankful to our staff, Mark Coyle, President Joan Gabel and the Board of Regents for trusting us to lead this program. Our goal is to recruit and coach at an elite level and to have our young people achieve academic, athletic, social and spiritual excellence. It’s a tremendous honor to lead this program, and we will continue to work to build a culture that connects the entire state.”

Minnesota athletics director Mark Coyle came to the program in 2016 and hired Fleck in 2017.

“P.J. and Heather continue to do everything the right way,” Coyle said. “He continues to build a program that fans can take great pride in, and his student-athletes compete at a high level academically, athletically and socially. He is a tremendous recruiter and has elevated the stature of our program by an immeasurable amount. I am grateful to President Gabel and the Board of Regents for their continued support, and I look forward to Coach Fleck continuing to lead the Gophers.”