All Things P.J. Fleck Rumor Mill Thread - Listed as Candidate for Other Jobs

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People keep asking "Why would Fleck leave MN?"

Well- just speculating here - but if Fleck has come to a private realization that winning at MN - at least winning big - is going to be more difficult than he thought, then he might have reason to consider other options.

And - FWIW - here is Fleck's list of coaching stops:
Northern Illinois - 3 years
Rutgers - 2 years
Tampa Bay Bucs - 1 year
Western Michigan - 4 years
Minnesota - 4 years to date

Fleck has never stayed at the same place longer than 4 years. Maybe MN is different, and he will stay here longer.

But, his track record so far has been to stay at one place for a relatively short time and then move on.

So, from that perspective, it would not be shocking if he might be willing to consider a change.

Fleck - at least in some circles - is seen as a "turnaround specialist" - a guy who comes into a job, brings fairly quick improvement, and then moves on to the next challenge. Tennessee presents a real challenge. Just saying.
 


I suppose we should all be sick to our stomach for awhile while this thing clears up...
 



An interesting read on how the Vols got into their current predicament:


On the one hand, I can't see why Fleck would want to walk into such a dysfunctional mess. The potential for serious NCAA sanctions is real.

On the other hand, if the Vols administration views Fleck as their best hope for avoiding serious NCAA sanctions--and its serious about wresting control of the program back from the boosters--I can see why they'd be interested in Fleck and offer him whatever he wants in order to get him to take the job.
 

Other than our B1G rivals, I dislike the Vols more than any team. Terrible memories of them from the Liberty Bowl in 1986. Their fans were the worst. Even their band director was an ass. I may hold grudges ;)
 

Just stop with the Tenn talk. Fleck is NOT going there 100%. He wants no part of the SEC unless it's one of the top 2 or 3 programs (TN ain't it); not to mention they will have NCAA sanctions going forward. He's already has reached out the team and said he's not going anywhere.
 

I don't like that the Pioneer Press Sport section has this as their headline. In the past, its been a side article for potential of PJ leaving.
 



LesBolstad said:
Just stop with the Tenn talk. Fleck is NOT going there 100%. He wants no part of the SEC unless it's one of the top 2 or 3 programs (TN ain't it); not to mention they will have NCAA sanctions going forward. He's already has reached out the team and said he's not going anywhere.
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reached out to the football team? when did he do this? that would be awesome!!
 

LesBolstad said:
Just stop with the Tenn talk. Fleck is NOT going there 100%. He wants no part of the SEC unless it's one of the top 2 or 3 programs (TN ain't it); not to mention they will have NCAA sanctions going forward. He's already has reached out the team and said he's not going anywhere.
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I hope you’re right but how do you know he’s told the team he’s staying?
 

Fan of Ray Christensen said:
An interesting read on how the Vols got into their current predicament:


On the one hand, I can't see why Fleck would want to walk into such a dysfunctional mess. The potential for serious NCAA sanctions is real.

On the other hand, if the Vols administration views Fleck as their best hope for avoiding serious NCAA sanctions--and its serious about wresting control of the program back from the boosters--I can see why they'd be interested in Fleck and offer him whatever he wants in order to get him to take the job.
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If it’s true that Fleck likes being the program builder, then this seems like the type of challenge he’d want. Needs major culture change, but large upside (won a natty about 20 years ago and access to SEC talent pool). Florida and Georgia are in no way unbeatable. And with sanctions I could see him being able to sell that as having “Year Zero” for like 3 years to protect himself from expectations. Taking over a much bigger program with recent sustained success like ND would come with expectations of a lot quicker success, and less personal glory for PJ.
 




From an article discussing the three candidates:

Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck, Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott and SMU coach Sonny Dykes have been vetted for the Vols job, FootballScoop reported. At least one of those coaches and his agent have reached out to gauge interest of assistant coaches around the country in a potential opportunity to join a staff on Rocky Top.

It would make sense that Tony Elliott is the one reaching out to assistants around the country on the possibility of joining him at Tennessee. He's currently an OC and has never been a head coach. Fleck and Dykes would likely bring a large portion of their current staffs with them.

www.saturdaydownsouth.com

Report: Tennessee’s coaching search has vetted 3 well-known coaches, including current Power 5 head coach

This is an interesting twist to the search.
www.saturdaydownsouth.com www.saturdaydownsouth.com
 

Certainly Auburn would be worried with a change of PJ to UT. PJ - 1; Auburn - 0.

That aside. Hope he stays. I like rowing the boat. Good exercise.
 

Fan of Ray Christensen said:
An interesting read on how the Vols got into their current predicament:


On the one hand, I can't see why Fleck would want to walk into such a dysfunctional mess. The potential for serious NCAA sanctions is real.

On the other hand, if the Vols administration views Fleck as their best hope for avoiding serious NCAA sanctions--and its serious about wresting control of the program back from the boosters--I can see why they'd be interested in Fleck and offer him whatever he wants in order to get him to take the job.
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Why will he take a job where the front office that may have back stabbers and snakes in the grass lurking? Then, how is he going to control the very secretive bag men and boosters?

Leadership come from the top. Do you want your AD to be a former head coach who is responsible for the demise of his predecessor? Will Fulmer micromanage him?

It is not only the coach that they have to fix. They need to change the culture of the Athletic Department which will be difficult.
 
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LesBolstad said:
Just stop with the Tenn talk. Fleck is NOT going there 100%. He wants no part of the SEC unless it's one of the top 2 or 3 programs (TN ain't it); not to mention they will have NCAA sanctions going forward. He's already has reached out the team and said he's not going anywhere.
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“He’s already reached out to the team and said he’s not going anywhere” and you would know this how? Or is this what they call embellishment?
 

Back in the day Mason's flirtations with MSU and tOSU really bugged me.

In a better place now. Progress.
 

short ornery norwegian said:
People keep asking "Why would Fleck leave MN?"

Well- just speculating here - but if Fleck has come to a private realization that winning at MN - at least winning big - is going to be more difficult than he thought, then he might have reason to consider other options.

And - FWIW - here is Fleck's list of coaching stops:
Northern Illinois - 3 years
Rutgers - 2 years
Tampa Bay Bucs - 1 year
Western Michigan - 4 years
Minnesota - 4 years to date

Fleck has never stayed at the same place longer than 4 years. Maybe MN is different, and he will stay here longer.

But, his track record so far has been to stay at one place for a relatively short time and then move on.

So, from that perspective, it would not be shocking if he might be willing to consider a change.

Fleck - at least in some circles - is seen as a "turnaround specialist" - a guy who comes into a job, brings fairly quick improvement, and then moves on to the next challenge. Tennessee presents a real challenge. Just saying.
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He has made a total of 1 coaching move as a head coach - from WMU to the Gophers which was a huge step up from the MAC to the Big10 (very understandable). Assistants and coordinators commonly make changes from one program to the next if their goal is to be a head coach of a Power 5 school one day which is exactly what Fleck did.
 

R
hungan1 said:
Why will he take a job where the front office that may have back stabbers and snakes in the grass lurking? Then, how is he going to control the very secretive bag men and boosters?

Leadership come from the top. Do you want your AD to be a former head coach who is responsible for the demise of his predecessor? Will Fulmer micromanage him?

It is not only the coach that they have to fix. They need to change the culture of the Athletic Department which will be difficult.
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you must have missed where Fulmer retired and they hired a AD Danny White last week from UCF.
 

I’d bet on him staying. I would imagine Danny White would stick with hiring a guy who is new to head coaching at the P5 level, why not with the success he’s had with hiring guys from lower ranks for his three previous hires, all of which have been successes?
 

GopherGod said:
R


you must have missed where Fulmer retired and they hired a AD Danny White last week from UCF.
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I did miss that he bailed out before the impending storm by invitation. I guess Tennessee was trying to do pest control.
 

Lot of Fleck comparisons to Butch Jones on the UT fan board. Butch found success at Central Michigan than Cinci before UT hired him.
 


amk8930 said:
Feels like it's becoming more and more likely Fleck is leaving with the news that keeps coming out. First Dan, now this article, etc. The fact that his name keeps appearing doesn't bode well either.
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Did his buyout drop from 10 million to 4 million this month ?
 





I know it's tough in the current environment but it seems foolish to let PJ enter next year with only a $4M buyout.
 

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