On Thursday night, reports started to surface that Western Michigan’s P.J. Fleck had reached an agreement to become the head coach at the University of Minnesota. Shortly after, conflicting reports came out that Fleck had been offered the position, but he had not yet accepted.
Now, according to Wood TV8 out of Grand Rapids, MI, a Western Michigan official has confirmed that Fleck is indeed leaving WMU.
#BREAKING: WMU official confirms @WMU_Football head coach P.J. Fleck is leaving pic.twitter.com/jBNPZKOQ1P
— WOOD TV8 (@WOODTV) January 6, 2017
Fleck himself has also reportedly confirmed he is heading to Minnesota.
WMU coach P.J. Fleck confirms to Newschannel 3, CBS News, WWMT, West Michigan he is taking the job at the University of Minnesota.
— Kirk Mason (@KirkMasonWWMT) January 6, 2017
ESPN is also reporting this is a done deal.
THIS JUST IN: Western Michigan coach P.J. Fleck expected to be named head coach at Minnesota. (via multiple reports) pic.twitter.com/E0TetAA3GZ
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 6, 2017
UPDATE: 1:29 p.m.
Source: Minnesota's deal with P.J. Fleck is for five years, $17.5 million.
— Tony Paul | Detroit News (@TonyPaul1984) January 6, 2017
Taken from previous DSN article:
The 2016 season was a magical one for Fleck and the Broncos as they were perfect in the regular season with a 13-0 record before being selected to play in the Cotton Bowl against the Wisconsin Badgers. Though the Badgers won the game 24-16, WMU battled to the very end and have nothing to hang their heads about.
In his four seasons at Western Michigan, Fleck compiled an overall record of 30-22, including a 21-11 record in the Mid-American Conference. As the Broncos kept winning, Fleck’s name started to be tossed around as a potential replacement at schools such as Purdue, Houston, and even Texas, but he seemed to be content remaining in Kalamazoo.
That obviously changed as it was reported on Wednesday that Minnesota was targeting Fleck to be their next head coach. Apparently, things came together rather quickly and if reports are correct, Fleck will be coaching in the Big Ten along with the likes of Jim Harbaugh, Mark Dantonio, and Urban Meyer.
