Insider: Expect PJ Fleck to be top candidate for UCLA head coach

"Expect Minnesota's P.J. Fleck among UCLA's top candidates."

Chip Kelly's surprising decision to leave his job as the UCLA head coach role to become Ohio State's offensive coordinator could have an impact on the Gophers.

Action Network's college football insider Brett McMurphy reported Friday that Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck is expected to be among UCLA's top candidates to take over the program.

Fleck has a 50-34 record in his seven years in charge of the Gophers and would provide Big Ten experience for a UCLA program set to join the conference starting in 2024.

UCLA coach Chip Kelly leaving to become Ohio State’s OC, @BruceFeldmanCFB reports. When Day was New Hampshire’s QB, Kelly was UNH’s OC. Expect Minnesota’s P.J. Fleck among UCLA’s top candidates

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) February 9, 2024

The 43-year-old has long been linked with various coaching openings. Gophers Athletic Director Mark Coyle talked about the constant interest in Fleck in November saying: "If you look at these openings, his name pops up almost every time, so that is why we have to continue to be creative and do everything we can to keep him here."

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.

Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck leads his team out onto the field before the game against Northwestern at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Nov. 12, 2022 :: Matt Krohn / USA TODAY Sports

Andy Greder of the Pioneer Press reported that Fleck had "heard nothing yet" surrounding UCLA's potential interest.

Follow-up: With #Gophers’ PJ Fleck linked to new head coaching vacancy at UCLA, one key source told the @PioneerPress on Friday that he had “heard nothing yet” surrounding the Bruins’ reported interest.

— Andy Greder (@andygreder) February 9, 2024