Mark Coyle: UCLA interest in Gophers' PJ Fleck 'was real'

"Every year people have contacted him."

University of Minnesota athletics director Mark Coyle said UCLA's interest in PJ Fleck following the sudden departure of head coach Chip Kelly "was real."

Speaking on the Golden Gophers Podcast Thursday Coyle was candid about the interest being showed to the Gophers football coach.

"Every year people have contacted him," Coyle told KFXN-FM's Justin Gaard. "He's had great success here. When UCLA, when that started to percolate and gain momentum... he and I talked on Friday night. We had really long conversations on Friday night. He and I had long conversations on Saturday morning. I had to chance to talk with President Ettinger with board leadership and those type of things. We all recognized what PJ means to this place."

Dec 26, 2023; Detroit, MI, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck looks at the scoreboard in the fourth quarter of their game against the Bowling Green Falcons at Ford Field / Credit: Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports

UCLA were left looking for a new football coach as Kelly surprisingly left after six years to take the offensive coordinator position with Big Ten rival Ohio State. Fleck was heavily linked with the opening in Los Angeles but ultimately quashed the rumors tweeting from his personal Twitter account: "Honored to be the Head Football Coach at Minnesota!! Ready for an ELITE 2024 season!! Now, back to our wedding anniversary trip!!"

"Because of the transfer portal, because of all the changes going on in college football we felt it was important to continue to be committed to PJ," Coyle continued. "He knows we're committed to to him. He and I have a great relationship so we're excited that he's here in Minnesota, that he's going to be a Gopher. But again, his name is going to come up every year because what he does is unique."

Fleck is 50-34 in Minnesota and has taken the Gophers to five bowl games in his seven seasons in charge. The 43-year-old has won nine games or more three times with Minnesota.

"I can tell you in the athletic directors circle talk about him," Coyle continued. "People get confused about 'Row the Boat,' people get confused about him jumping up and down on the sideline, they get confused about him running around, all that type of stuff. At the end of the day he's old fashioned values packaged hi-def. He relates to those kids, they will run through a wall for him. He's about hard work, commitment, loyalty all those type of things you want your kids to learn from. So we feel very fortunate to have him here at Minnesota."

PJ Fleck conversation begins at the 30-minute mark in the podcast below.

"Minnesota football is better with PJ Fleck leading our program," Coyle said.