Getting To Know Young Minnesota Gophers Coach P.J. Fleck (Video & Photo)

Here is iFolloSports.com original video of first year Minnesota Golden Gophers football coach P.J. Fleck interacting with fans, after the conclusion of last week’s weekly regular season radio show appearance, a few miles north of campus, at Joe Senser's Sports Bar and Kitchen, in the Twin Cities suburb of Roseville, Minnesota.

This up close photo of Fleck (courtesy of Gopherhole.com) occurred shortly after Minnesota’s 48-14 victory at Oregon State, last Saturday.

Despite only coaching two games at Minnesota, (wins over Buffalo & Oregon St.), the 36-year-old Fleck has already brought a tremendous amount of youthful enthusiasm to the school. Fans like what he did at Western Michigan and have subsequently been even more impressed with his energy, passion and tireless recruiting efforts, which have led to perhaps one of the school’s top classes in a very long time.

Even nationally, Fleck and the program are garnering more attention, with ESPNU producing a four-part mini series titled “Being P.J. Fleck,” chronicling his first offseason as Gophers coach.  

Prior to joining the Gophers, Fleck coached at Western Michigan from 2013-2016 and really turned around the MAC program. He was a two-time conference coach of the year (2014, 2016), while leading the school to three bowl games, including the Cotton Bowl in Dallas last season, amid posting a 13-1 record.

Fleck has also actively engaged with both the university and Twin Cities community, including through frequent references to his favorite word “elite.”

In addition, Fleck often refers to the phrase “row the boat,” originally devised after the tragic death of his son Colt, who passed shortly after birth due to a heart condition.

Fleck and his wife Heather have four living children, including one from Heather’s first marriage.