P. J. Fleck

P. J. Fleck
Sport(s) Football
Current position
Title Head coach
Team Western Michigan
Conference Mid-American Conference (MAC)
Record 30–21
Biographical details
Born (1980-11-29) November 29, 1980
Sugar Grove, Illinois
Alma mater Northern Illinois
Playing career
1999–2003 Northern Illinois
2004–2005 San Francisco 49ers
Position(s) Wide receiver
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2006 Ohio State (GA)
2007–2008 Northern Illinois (WR)
2009 Northern Illinois (WR/RC)
2010–2011 Rutgers (WR)
2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (WR)
2013–present Western Michigan
Head coaching record
Overall 30–21
Bowls 1–1
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
  • Mid-American Conference (2016)
  • 2× MAC West Division (2015, 2016)
Awards

Phillip John Fleck (born November 29, 1980) is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach at Western Michigan University. Fleck played as a wide receiver for Northern Illinois University from 1999 to 2003 and with the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL) from 2004 to 2005.

Playing career

Prep

Fleck started his playing career at Kaneland High School located in Maple Park, Illinois where he helped the Knights win back to back, undefeated state championships in 1998 and 1999. He set a state record with 95 catches for 1,548 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior. For his career, Fleck caught 199 passes for 3,121 yards and 34 scores with at least one catch in 40 straight games. Fleck also lettered in varsity track and basketball.

College

Upon graduation, Fleck attended Northern Illinois University where he played wide receiver under head coach Joe Novak. As a senior, he led the Huskies with 77 catches for 1,028 yards and six touchdowns, a reception total that still ranks second on the school's single-season list. Fleck still owns the school record for career punt returns (87), is second in punt return yards (716), ranks third in career catches (179) and is fourth in receiving yards (2,162).[1] He was a second team Academic All-American as a senior and was twice voted team captain by his Huskie teammates.[2]

Pro

Fleck was signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Francisco 49ers following the 2004 NFL Draft. 49ers head coach Dennis Erickson labeled Fleck a "frickin' warrior" during the first days of rookie training camp.[3] Fleck spent a majority of the 2004 season on the 49ers practice squad before being promoted to the 53 man roster and appearing in the 49ers final game of the season. Playing special teams, he registered a tackle and returned one punt for ten yards[4][5] Fleck spent the 2005 season on injured reserve after suffering a significant shoulder injury during the preseason. On June 12, 2006, Fleck was released by the 49ers. The day he was released, 49ers head coach Mike Nolan offered Fleck a spot on his coaching staff as assistant wide receivers coach,[6] stating "If that's something he wants to do, I think he'd be very good at it."[3]

Fleck attempted to continue his playing career after his release from the 49ers, and had a tryout with his hometown Chicago Bears on June 20. However, he failed his physical due to his previous injuries and was unable to sign. Fleck stated that after the failed physical, he knew it was time to begin a career in coaching.

Assistant coaching career

Fleck began his coaching career in 2006 as an offensive graduate assistant at Ohio State University at the invitation of head coach Jim Tressel.[6] He worked directly with the Buckeyes tight ends and assisted with the special teams. Northern Illinois running back coach Thomas Hammock, defensive ends coach Mike Sabock, and University of Southern California quarterbacks coach Nik Visger, all lifelong friends and collegiate teammates of Tressel, helped Fleck land the Ohio State job.[7] Fleck spent one year with the Buckeyes, who were ranked #1 in the country most of the season. The team earned the 2006 Big Ten Championship and appeared in the 2007 BCS National Championship Game, where they lost to Florida and finished the season ranked #2 in the nation.

In 2007, Fleck was hired by Northern Illinois head coach Joe Novak as wide receivers coach, replacing Carnelius Cruz.[8] Novak had stated several years prior that he hoped to one day hire Fleck as a coach. Following Novak's retirement in 2008, Fleck was one of two NIU assistants to be retained by incoming head coach Jerry Kill, and also added the title of recruiting coordinator.[9]

In 2010, Fleck was hired by Rutgers University as the wide receivers coach under head coach Greg Schiano.

On February 2, 2012, he was hired as the offensive coordinator at Northern Illinois University. Coach Dave Doeren said the following about Fleck's hiring, "We spoke at length about why this is the right place for him. It was very evident to me that he bleeds NIU, and he would have tremendous pride and passion working not just for me, but for the university to help continue what we started last year, and really what he started here as a player. His recruiting abilities and passing game expertise, working alongside Coach Carey as our run game coordinator, will be a great combination for our offense."[10] Just one day later, on February 3, 2012, Fleck abruptly resigned the Northern Illinois position to accept a position as wide receivers coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL. The move reunited him with Schiano, who had recently left Rutgers for the Buccaneers head coaching job.

During his time with the Buccaneers, Fleck was known to wear cleats during practice, often running routes and simulating defenses with the receivers.[11][12]

Head coaching career

On December 17, 2012, Western Michigan University announced the hiring of Fleck as the new head coach, making him the youngest head coach and the first head coach in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of college football to have been born in the 1980s.[13] Fleck signed a five-year contract worth $392,000 per season that includes an assistant coaches salary pool of $825,000.[14] The previous head coach, Bill Cubit, earned $375,000 per year with an assistants salary pool of $723,000.[14] With the increased budget, Fleck intends to hire a dedicated recruiting coordinator – a first for the WMU football program.[14] Other candidates expressing interest in the job included Syracuse defensive coordinator (and later head coach) Scott Shafer, and Kent State offensive coordinator Brian Rock, both former WMU assistants.[15] WMU had also been in contact with Indiana State head coach Trent Miles, North Dakota State head coach Craig Bohl, and Illinois State head coach Brock Spack, all of whom declined interest or withdrew from consideration[16]

One of Fleck's first actions as head coach was to rescind scholarship offers to incoming players who had verbally committed to Western Michigan. The withdraws occurred weeks before the national signing day, and left players unable to arrange other Division I scholarships as slots were already filled at other schools.[17] "I know if it was me, I would be ticked," Fleck said of the players who had scholarship offers pulled. "I also know if it was me, I would have showed up in the office of the head football coach, telling him I was dying to still be here."[17] Fleck started his position during a dead period when recruits are not allowed to have face-to-face contact with coaches.

Fleck made sports headlines after his hire with his charisma and attempts to energize to the WMU program, including dancing (The Harlem Shake), posting YouTube videos, adding an in-stadium DJ for games, and establishing a program-wide mantra of "rowing the boat". Fleck participated in a polar bear plunge held at Goldsworth Pond on the Western Michigan campus. The event raised funds for the Michigan Special Olympics, and led Holly Anderson of Sports Illustrated to proclaim Fleck as "the best new hire" for 2013, if only for generating interest in the program.[18][19]

2013 season

Fleck's first season as Broncos head coach resulted in a final record of 1–11 (1–7 Mid-American Conference (MAC)). It was the program's worst season since 2004, when the Broncos went 1–10 (0–7 MAC). Injuries, youth and inexperience, discipline, and execution led to poor play.[20] Low-lights included a home loss to Nicholls State, a blowout loss to Iowa, and a homecoming loss to Buffalo. The team improved their play late in the season, with a road win against UMass, and close home losses to in-state rivals Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan.[21]

Despite the on-field difficulties in 2013, Fleck and his staff succeeded off the field by signing a highly-ranked recruiting class. Observers noted that it was possibly the best recruiting class in WMU history, and the best in the MAC since 2000.[22][23] Rivals.com had the WMU class ranked highest among "mid-major" programs for 2014, with 247Sports.com ranking the class 36th-best nationally for 2015.[24]

2014 season

By 2015, Fleck was one of seven FBS head coaches with NFL playing experience: Jim Harbaugh, Steve Spurrier, Jeff Brohm, Joey Jones, Kliff Kingsbury, and Kyle Whittingham.[25]

On November 20, 2014, Fleck was among 20 semi-finalists for the Maxwell Coach of the Year award.[26]

After finishing the 2014 regular season with a 8–4 record, Fleck was named the 2014 MAC Coach of the Year.[27] The seven game improvement in wins from the previous season was the best in WMU and MAC history.[28] WMU rewarded Fleck by extending his contract through the 2020 season.[29] In addition to his base salary of $392,500, Fleck earned an additional $61,000 in bonuses by hitting contract incentives ($25,000 for a bowl game appearance, $15,000 for MAC Coach of the Year, $12,000 for eight wins, and $9,000 for player all-conference honors).[28] Fleck's new contract will pay him $800,000 per year, plus incentives, making Fleck the MAC’s highest-paid coach, nearly 45 percent higher than second place Frank Solich ($554,500).[30]

WMU lost 38–24 in the 2014 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl against the Air Force Falcons of the Mountain West Conference.

2015 season

Fleck and WMU had the highest-rated recruiting class in the MAC for the third consecutive year.[31]

To open the season, WMU lost to No. 5 Michigan State 37–24 at home in Waldo Stadium. The matchup marked the first time that WMU had hosted a Big Ten Conference opponent since 2007 (Indiana). The following week, they lost to Georgia Southern 43–17. In week 3 they beat Murray State at home 52–20. In week 4 they lost at No. 1 Ohio State by a score of 38–12.

In week 4, Western retained the Victory Cannon by defeating rival Central Michigan by a score of 41–39. In week 8, Western retained the Michigan MAC Trophy by defeating Eastern Michigan by a score of 58–28.

On November 27, 2015, the Broncos beat No. 24-ranked Toledo 35–30 on the road at the Glass Bowl for the program's first ever win over a ranked opponent. Western was previously 0–32 against top-25 teams.[32]

WMU finished the 2015 regular season with a record of 7–5 (6–2 MAC). 7 of the 12 opponents ultimately appeared in a bowl game. The 7–5 record earned WMU a bowl berth for the second straight year – the first time in program history that the team made bowl appearances in consecutive seasons.[33] On December 24, 2015, the Broncos defeated the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders in the Bahamas Bowl by a score of 45–31. The bowl win was the first in program history – WMU was previously 0–6 in postseason bowl games.

2016 season

Fleck and WMU had the highest-rated recruiting class in the MAC for the fourth consecutive year.

To open the season WMU beat Northwestern 22–21 at Northwestern. The following week they beat North Carolina Central 70–21 in Kalamazoo. In week three WMU beat Illinois 34–10 on the road. This was the first time in program history to beat 2 Big Ten teams in 1 season.

In week 4 WMU avenged a loss to Georgia Southern from last season, winning 49–31.

In week five, Western retained the Victory Cannon by defeating rival Central Michigan by a score of 49–10. This marks WMUs third consecutive win in the series and 5 of the last 6. Following this game WMU was ranked 25 in the coaches poll, the first they have ever been ranked.

In the sixth week, WMU improved to 6–0 with a win against his alma mater NIU (Northern Illinois University). This was enough to put them at rank #24 in the AP Top 25 poll, the first time in Western's history that they've received a place in the top 25.[34]

WMU was able to complete their undefeated regular season at 12-0 with a win at home against Toledo, 55-35 on Friday, November 25. The Broncos are currently ranked #17 in the CFP Poll. Should they defeat Ohio University in the MAC Championship game at Ford Field in Detroit on Friday, December 2, it is believed that they are being widely considered to crash a "New Years Six" bowl on January 1, 2017, which would be the highest profile game in program history.[35]

Fleck has been rumored to be considered for several head coaching vacancies across the country, most notably Purdue and Oregon, and some other rumors have arisen around other programs with potential coaches on the hot seat, such as Notre Dame and Tennessee. He has denied talking to other programs, and has stated that his focus will remain solely with WMU until at least the conclusion of the MAC Championship on December 2.[36]

Coaching tree

Notable head coaches under whom Fleck has served:

Personal life

Fleck is a 2004 graduate of Northern Illinois University with a bachelor's degree in elementary education. Fleck has five children, son Gavin, son Carter Joseph (C. J.), son, Colt, daughter, Paisley Jane (P.J.) and daughter Harper. Colt died shortly after birth because of a heart condition. Paisley was born on December 17, 2012, the same day Fleck was announced as the new coach at Western Michigan University. He divorced in 2015. He married Heather Jackson on Feb. 11, 2016.[37] [38] Fleck is an avid runner and completed his first marathon in April 2009.[39]

Fleck annually hosts the P. J. Fleck "Live Your Dream" Football Camp that benefits the Juvenile Arthritis Foundation (Friends of Carra), Alopecia Foundation (Locks of Love), Coach Kill's Cancer Fund, and the P. J. Fleck Scholarship Fund.[39] Past camp instructors have included Fleck's former teammates and friends Ken Dorsey and Justin McCareins.[40]

In 2014, Fleck was inducted into the Hall of Fame of his high school, Kaneland High School in Maple Park, Illinois.[41]

Fleck credits Jim Tressel, Greg Schiano, and Jerry Kill–among others–with helping advance his coaching career.[42]

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Western Michigan Broncos (Mid-American Conference) (2013–present)
2013 Western Michigan 1–11 1–7 T–5th (West)
2014 Western Michigan 8–5 6–2 3rd (West) L Famous Idaho Potato
2015 Western Michigan 8–5 6–2 T–1st (West) W Bahamas
2016 Western Michigan 13–0 8–0 1st (West) Cotton†
Western Michigan: 30–21 21–11
Total: 30–21
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title
†Indicates Bowl Coalition, Bowl Alliance, BCS, or CFP / New Years' Six bowl.

References

  1. ↑ "Western Michigan hires P. J. Fleck as new football coach". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  2. ↑ "NIU Bio P. J. Fleck". Retrieved July 7, 2012.
  3. 1 2 "P.J. Fleck". kffl.com. Archived from the original on December 4, 2014. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  4. ↑ "P. J. Fleck: Game Logs". Nfl.com. November 29, 1980. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  5. ↑ "P. J. Fleck NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
  6. 1 2 http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-09-10/sports/ct-spt-0911-haugh-fleck-chicago-20130911_1_western-michigan-head-coach-northern-illinois
  7. ↑ http://www.daily-chronicle.com/2006/07/30/fleck-adjusts-to-role-at-big-time-program/asi1llf/sports01.txt
  8. ↑ "Archive". Daily Chronicle. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  9. ↑ http://northernstar.info/sports/article_1934a365-de6a-5441-acf4-d3f67df029b6.html?mode=jqm
  10. ↑ "Fleck, Uremovich Return to NIU as Doeren Completes Coaching Staff". Retrieved July 7, 2012.
  11. ↑ "The Influence Of P. J. Fleck". JoeBucsFan.com. August 8, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  12. ↑ "New Western Michigan football coach P. J. Fleck brings an 'upbeat' style to Broncos". MLive.com. November 1, 2011. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  13. ↑ Fishell, Aaron (December 18, 2012). "P.J. Fleck annouced (sic) as 15th WMU head football coach". Western Herald. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  14. 1 2 3 Gade, Matt (November 1, 2011). "WMU football coach P. J. Fleck will make slightly more than Bill Cubit; AD vows six-figure increase in assistants' salary pool". MLive.com. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  15. ↑ "Scott Shafer to take over for Doug Marrone at Syracuse, reports say". Espn.go.com. January 10, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  16. ↑ Drew, David (November 27, 2012). "Report that Western Michigan had hired Indiana State football coach Trent Miles denied by WMU AD Kathy Beauregard and Miles". MLive.com. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  17. 1 2 "New coach, no scholarship: 'I'm sorry, we don't want you,' is first thing Indy-area recruit told". April 29, 2013. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
  18. ↑ Watson, Graham (June 5, 2013). "Western Michigan coach P. J. Fleck takes the polar plunge for charity". Sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
  19. ↑ "The Switzies: Awards for college football's 'best' in the 2013 offseason". College-football.si.com. May 10, 2013. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
  20. ↑ Drew, David (November 13, 2013). "Is this the worst season in Western Michigan football history?". Kalamazoo Gazette. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  21. ↑ Chandler, Meghan (December 11, 2013). "Coach P. J. Fleck says 1–11 football record falls 'completely on me'". Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  22. ↑ Fenech, Anthony (February 6, 2014). "Western Michigan lands highest-rated MAC class ever, including former MSU commit Jay Harris". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  23. ↑ Drew, David (February 8, 2014). "David Drew: P.J. Fleck's impressive WMU football recruiting class another step in right direction". mlive.com. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  24. ↑ Drew, David (June 10, 2014). "WMU football 2015 recruiting class is third-biggest in the country". mlive.com. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  25. ↑ http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/eye-on-college-football/24679811/ranking-fbs-college-football-coaches-by-playing-career-1-128
  26. ↑ http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=24299&SPID=1922&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=209772989&DB_OEM_ID=4600
  27. ↑ http://www.mlive.com/broncos/index.ssf/2014/12/wmu_football_coach_pj_fleck_na_2.html
  28. 1 2 http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/mac/2014/12/03/pj-fleck-western-michigan-mac-first-team/19860411/
  29. ↑ http://www.mlive.com/broncos/index.ssf/2014/12/western_michigan_finalizing_co.html
  30. ↑ http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/12/18/p-j-fleck-signs-six-year-extension-at-western-michigan-is-now-the-macs-highest-paid-coach/
  31. ↑ http://www.hustlebelt.com/mac-football-recruiting/2015/2/4/7974113/western-michigan-wmu-national-signing-day-2015-recap-news
  32. ↑ http://www.mlive.com/broncos/index.ssf/2015/11/western_michigan_beats_no_24_t.html
  33. ↑ http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/story/sports/college/2015/12/22/losses-big-ten-teams-helped-wmu-football-grow/77772100/
  34. ↑ http://www.wmich.edu/news/2016/10/35615
  35. ↑ http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/2016/11/29/westerns-newest-impediment-cotton-bowl-navy/94635514/
  36. ↑ http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/2016/11/28/wmu-pj-fleck-addresses-job-rumors-players/94557418/
  37. ↑ Twitter. Twitter https://twitter.com/Coach_Fleck/status/645757924237836288. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  38. ↑ "Still unknown: Is P.J. Fleck the Next Big Thing ... or just passing through?". cbssports.com. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  39. 1 2 "P. J. Fleck Profile". Niuhuskies.com. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  40. ↑ http://www.wmu.csnbbs.com/thread-238850-post-2508033.html#pid2508033
  41. ↑ http://www.mlive.com/broncos/index.ssf/2014/05/wmu_football_coach_pj_fleck_to.html
  42. ↑ http://coachingsearch.com/article?a=How-to-land-a-headcoaching-job-PJ-Fleck-Matt-Wells-describe-interview-processes

External links

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