PJ Fleck Contract Extension Incoming?
There have been coaching cycles in which Minnesota Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck has been a prominent candidate . This time around the smoke didn’t equate to much . Coming off an 8-5 record this past season, it’s hard not to think that Minnesota left something on the table .
Still, Fleck finished up the campaign with a victory over New Mexico in the Rate Bowl . The Gophers went an undefeated 7-0 at Huntington Bank Stadium, and will be looking to take a step forward despite a tougher 2026 schedule .
Entering his 10th season leading the MN Gophers, it sounds like additional job security is coming soon too.
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MN Gophers preparing a PJ Fleck extension
The Minnesota Gophers were thrilled to land P.J. Fleck from Western Michigan. There have been ups and downs during his tenure in Dinkytown, but he’s built momentum with a strong recruiting class and good transfer portal showing. Local sportswriter David Shama is reporting that a contract extension is in the works.
School president Dr. Rebecca Cunningham indicated that at a social club gathering in Naples, Florida recently. Minneapolis-based attorney, writer and historian Marshall Tanick reported via email to Sports Headliners what Cunningham and Fleck said at the Minnesota Breakfast club gathering, an organization in Southwest Florida that was started in 1964 by Minneapolis natives and draws prominent speakers during the winter months to its weekly programs.
Tanick wrote Cunningham “intimated that the school is about to extend Fleck’s contract” which now runs through 2030. Other details weren’t offered but a new extension falls in line with the support Fleck has received from athletics director Mark Coyle who hired him.
It’s not a surprise that Coyle would continue to tie Fleck to his own tenure. The athletic director has been a staunch supporter of the head ball coach, and the pairing seems to work.
Last season he was paid $7 million, which ranked 12th of 18 coaches in the Big Ten. That number also comes in just $1 million more than the Minnesota Vikings paid to Brian Flores making him the highest paid coordinator in NFL history.
Minnesota doesn’t have to be unrealistic in hoping that Fleck can win a Big Ten Championship. However, a better showing in coin-flip games, and writing the 1-8 record against Iowa would be a good place to improve.
Fleck has gone 66-44 during his time with the Minnesota Gophers. He is just 39-40 in Big Ten games, however. He will return a team ripe with established talent , but a more difficult schedule could make a similar 8-5 record look like a step forward.
Fleck praises new Minnesota Gophers kicker
Dragan Kesich was a reliable placekicker during his time for the Minnesota Gophers. Syracuse transfer Brady Denaburg was less successful hitting just 66.7% of his attempts last season. Michigan transfer Beckham Sunderland is an interesting story, and Fleck is already talking him up.
Tanick wrote that Fleck is excited about Beckham Sunderland, a placekicking transfer from Michigan and Texas State. Fleck described the senior as an “unreal kicker.” He played at Texas State for special teams coordinator Daniel Da Prato, who recently was hired for that job at Minnesota.
Sunderland comes to the Gophers with a big leg , but very little experience. In 15 games the last two seasons with Texas State and Michigan, he never once attempted a field goal. A former professional soccer player Sunderland operated at the kickoff specialist.
New special teams coordinator Daniel Da Prato knows Sunderland from their time at Texas Tech. It makes sense he’d speak into his recruitment process. The belief has to be that there is a level of accuracy that pairs with the power.
A strong kicking game could help ease pressure on redshirt sophomore quarterback Drake Lindsey during his second season. If the Minnesota Gophers are right about Sunderland, he could be a fun one to watch.
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