Gopher Football’s PJ Fleck Popular in Early CFB Coaching Rumors

The Minnesota Gophers are back in town on Saturday for a tilt against the Michigan State Spartans. P.J. Fleck will be looking to right the ship that got off track in Iowa City last weekend.

Even though Fleck’s team got trounced 41-3 in what may have been his worst loss as a head coach, the result hasn’t stopped interest in his services. Arguably the most successful Gophers head coach in recent memory, Fleck has become a popular commodity.

Coaching carousel may take PJ Fleck from Minnesota

Currently there are eight head coach openings at the Power 4 level across college football. Among them, the highest profile include LSU, Penn State, and Florida. P.J. Fleck was previously tempted by UCLA, and they have a vacancy once again as well. Where Fleck could land, if anywhere, remains to be seen. That hasn’t stopped multiple sources indicating Fleck’s name continuing to pop up.

Another coach whose name is circulating around the carousel is Minnesota’s P.J. Fleck, who is 63-42 in nine years. Fleck has only one double-digit-victory season at the school, but his .600 winning percentage is better than any Gophers coach since 1950.

The Athletic

Minnesota won’t be looking to make a change by any stretch of the imagination, but that doesn’t mean P.J. Fleck stays put in the Twin Cities given all the openings that may be available this cycle.

Sports Illustrated

Fleck isn’t going to move just for the sake of doing so. He’s been in Minnesota for nine years now, and was with Western Michigan for four seasons prior to that. There are some big names that could tempt him though.

It seems unlikely that Penn State would come calling for the Gophers head coach, but Matt Rhule is basically off the table with his new extension, and Curt Cignetti just got more money as well. LSU will want a bigger hire than a coach who has won double-digit games with the Gophers just once.

It’s possible Florida sees Fleck as a rebound from Billy Napier, but UCLA is likely the school that could push the hardest again. Fleck nearly left the last time around, and there is already an established level of rapport.

Minnesota wants no part of replacing Fleck and the culture he has established for the Gophers. That said, he could see a new opportunity with a fat payday as worthwhile to make a jump. This is going to be a situation to monitor over the next few months.