The University of Minnesota is making sure football coach P.J. Fleck doesn’t row his boat somewhere else.
The Gophers head football coach agreed to a new seven-year contract through the 2026 season, the school announced Tuesday. Fleck will now cost $4.6 million per year, which is over a million dollars more than his original deal. His buyout is $10 million his first year and decreased to under $5 million a couple years after that.
The move to lock up Fleck was likely sparked by Florida State officials contacting the “Fleck camp” (likely his agent) to gauging the 38-year-old’s interest in the Seminoles job, said Gopher reporter Andy Greder of the Pioneer Press during his appearance on Tuesday’s “Sports Talk with Craig & John.” FSU fired Willie Taggert after less than two seasons on Sunday.
Deep into his third season, Fleck is 20-13, having improved from 5-7 in 2017 to a 7-6 second campaign in 2018, which ended with wins over Wisconsin and in a bowl, the first time Gopher football had accomplished both feats in the same season.
The current team is 8-0 for the first time since 1941 and 5-0 in Big Ten play for the first time since 1961. The Gophers are ranked No. 13. They play their most meaningful November game in over 50 years on Saturday when No. 5 Penn State, also 8-0, visits Minneapolis.
Why secure Fleck so soon? His name had been on coaches-to-watch lists for upcoming Power 5 openings, including Florida State, which fired Willie Taggert after less than two seasons on Sunday. USC and Notre Dame are also schools rumored to be making coaching changes soon.
The exuberant 38-year-old Fleck has become a popular candidate because of his turnaround jobs at both Minnesota and Western Michigan, where he took a 1-11 outfit his first season to a 13-1 record and Cotton Bowl appearance three years later in 2016 before the Gophers hired him.
Author’s Note: Those who cover big-time college and pro sports should warn Gopher fans: Minnesota’s locking up of Fleck is not definite. It is not uncommon for a coach to sign a long-term deal with a raise and then leave shortly after for a more prominent and lucrative program, which has the funds to afford the buyout. In Fleck’s case $10 million is peanuts at places like FSU, USC, and Notre Dame.
Fleck initially signed a five-year, $18 million contract with Minnesota in January 2017. He received two subsequent extensions and salary increases, and he was signed through the 2023 season at a salary of $3.6 million for this year. That deal required Fleck to pay $1 million to Minnesota for every remaining season on his contract if he left for another head-coaching position.
His new agreement is expected to include a notable increase for the coaching staff salary pool.
“It is a tremendous honor to lead this team and represent the University of Minnesota and this great state,” Fleck said in a statement. “Our family absolutely loves Minnesota, and we are excited to continue to call this state home. We are building a championship culture — one that our fans can be proud of — through the academic, athletic, social and spiritual development of our student athletes.”
Fleck on Oct. 26 became the second-youngest FBS coach to reach 50 career wins. He went 30-22 at Western Michigan and guided the Broncos to the Cotton Bowl in the 2016 season.
CLICK HERE to hear Pioneer Press Gopher reporter Andy Greder’s insight and opinion on the news.
