P.J. Fleck Leads Minnesota Gophers into Battle Against No. 1 Ohio State

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota — P.J. Fleck has quietly transformed the Minnesota Golden Gophers into a respectable college football program. In his nine seasons as head coach, Fleck has guided Minnesota to six bowl games with a perfect 6-0 record in those contests.

Since taking charge in 2017, the Gophers have logged winning records in seven of eight full seasons. Fleck’s standout year came in 2019 when Minnesota boasted an 11-2 record and secured a victory in the Outback Bowl, finishing the season ranked No. 10 in the US LBM Coaches Poll.

Currently, Minnesota holds a record of 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the Big Ten Conference. They are set to face off against Ryan Day’s No. 1 ranked Ohio State (4-0, 1-0) on Saturday, Oct. 4. The game marks a critical matchup in the already competitive Big Ten landscape.

Fleck, a Sugar Grove, Illinois native born on Nov. 29, 1980, has a coaching record of 61-40 at Minnesota. His coaching journey began after a brief playing career that included a stint with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent after the 2004 NFL Draft. Fleck started his collegiate coaching career at Western Michigan, where he clinched a remarkable record of 29-11 over four years, including a 13-1 season in 2016.

Fleck’s only season without a winning record at Minnesota was his first, in which the Golden Gophers went 5-7. Since then, he has steadily built the program into a force in the Big Ten.

As he prepares to meet Ohio State, Fleck remains focused on continuing his success and further cementing his legacy at Minnesota.