2013: 1-11
2014: 8-5 L Famous Potato Bowl
2015: 8-5 Tied 1st in MAC, W Bahamas Bowl
2016: 5-0
at Northwestern W 22–21
North Carolina Central] W 70–21 ]
at Illinois W 34–10 ]Georgia Southern W 49–31 ]
at Central Michigan W 49–10
Recruiting Classes:
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.Rivals.com had the WMU class ranked highest among "mid-major" programs for 2014, with247Sports.com ranking the class 36th-best nationally for 2015.
Program-Building:
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 and his wife Tracie 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]
Personal Life:
Fleck is a 2004 graduate of Northern Illinois University with a bachelor's degree in elementary education. Fleck has five children, a son Gavin, a 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.[34] [35] Fleck is an avid runner and completed his first marathon in April 2009.[36]
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.[36] Past camp instructors have included Fleck's former teammates and friends Ken Dorsey and Justin McCareins.[37]
In 2014, Fleck was inducted into the Hall of Fame of his high school, Kaneland High School in Maple Park, Illinois.[38]
Fleck credits Jim Tressel, Greg Schiano, and Jerry Kill – among others, with helping advance his coaching career.[39]
IN SHORT P.J. FLECK NEEDS TO ROW THE BOAT TO WEST LAFAYETTE!
2014: 8-5 L Famous Potato Bowl
2015: 8-5 Tied 1st in MAC, W Bahamas Bowl
2016: 5-0
at Northwestern W 22–21
North Carolina Central] W 70–21 ]
at Illinois W 34–10 ]Georgia Southern W 49–31 ]
at Central Michigan W 49–10
Recruiting Classes:
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.Rivals.com had the WMU class ranked highest among "mid-major" programs for 2014, with247Sports.com ranking the class 36th-best nationally for 2015.
Program-Building:
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 and his wife Tracie 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]
Personal Life:
Fleck is a 2004 graduate of Northern Illinois University with a bachelor's degree in elementary education. Fleck has five children, a son Gavin, a 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.[34] [35] Fleck is an avid runner and completed his first marathon in April 2009.[36]
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.[36] Past camp instructors have included Fleck's former teammates and friends Ken Dorsey and Justin McCareins.[37]
In 2014, Fleck was inducted into the Hall of Fame of his high school, Kaneland High School in Maple Park, Illinois.[38]
Fleck credits Jim Tressel, Greg Schiano, and Jerry Kill – among others, with helping advance his coaching career.[39]
IN SHORT P.J. FLECK NEEDS TO ROW THE BOAT TO WEST LAFAYETTE!
