Minnesota's P.J. Fleck appears to squash UCLA speculation
It doesn't appear that P.J. Fleck has any interest in the head coaching job at UCLA.
Fleck, who has been at the University of Minnesota for seven seasons, posted on X one day after national analysts heaped his name at the top of a list connected to the UCLA job, now vacant after Chip Kelly reportedly left to become the offensive coordinator at Ohio State.
"Honored to be the Head Football Coach at Minnesota!! Ready for an ELITE 2024 season!!" Fleck wrote. "Now, back to our wedding anniversary trip!!"
Action Network's college football insider Brett McMurphy reported Friday that Fleck is expected to be among UCLA's top candidates to take over the program.
Fleck signed a seven-year extension in December 2022 that keeps him in Minnesota through the 2029 season. There was no reported buyout number with the new extension, though his previous buyout was $10 million.
Of course, Fleck doused the flames connected to UCLA but he only mentioned in his post on X that he's ready to coach the Gophers in 2024, leaving the door open for rumors to come crawling back into the spotlight in 2025 and beyond.
Fleck is 50–34 with Minnesota while taken the Gophers to five bowl games. He’s won nine games or more three times, including in 2019 when the Gophers went 11–2 and won the Outback Bowl.
Dec 26, 2023; Detroit, MI, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers running back Darius Taylor (1) and head coach P.J. Fleck hold up the Quick Lane Bowl trophy after defeating the Bowling Green Falcons at Ford Field.
Credit: Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports
