P.J. Fleck Reportedly Will Be Minnesota Head Coach

The Minnesota Golden Gophers fired head football coach Tracy Claeys on Jan. 3, and the school has moved quickly to find the new face of the program.  

Continue for updates. 

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Fleck Reportedly Accepts Minnesota Job

Friday, Jan. 6

Kirk Mason of WWMT reported Fleck told the network he had accepted the Minnesota job. 

Fox 9 in Minneapolis reported Thursday that Minnesota was nearing a deal with Western Michigan head coach P.J. Fleck for six years, with a value in the $21 million range. Jamal Spencer of WZZM13 reported some Western Michigan players feel "used and betrayed" by Fleck's decision.

According to KSTP-TV's Joe Schmit, Golden Gophers athletic director Mark Coyle and school president Eric W. Kaler met with Fleck on Wednesday. However, Schmit noted nothing official is in place at this time. 

"I have received phone calls from people [regarding candidates],” Coyle said, according to the Star Tribune's Joe Christensen. "We will move as quickly as we can to find the best fit for Minnesota."

Fleck would be a logical first choice for the Golden Gophers, and it's easy to see why.

The Western Michigan boss led the Broncos to a 13-0 regular season in 2016, and that left them with plenty to be happy about even though they came up short against the Wisconsin Badgers in the Cotton Bowl. 

Following a 1-11 start to his tenure at Western Michigan in 2013, Fleck has since gone 29-11—including winning the Bahamas Bowl a season ago. 

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Miles Reportedly Meets with Minnesota

Thursday, Jan. 5 

Michael Kim of ESPN reported former LSU head coach Les Miles met with Minnesota officials Thursday.