P.J. Fleck close to signing contract extension with Western Michigan
P.J. Fleck has been a rumored candidate for virtually every available coaching job, but he’s reportedly set to commit to Western Michigan.
From a 1-11 record in his first season to a 13-0 campaign and a Cotton Bowl berth this year, Western Michigan coach P.J. Fleck became a top candidate to take a step up to a bigger job. But the already limited openings in the Power 5 conferences are quickly drying up, with Purdue (Jeff Brohm) and Oregon (Willie Taggart) hiring coaches this week, and even Houston has honed in on a new head coach with reports Lane Kiffin will get that job soon.
In a good situation in Kalamazoo, Fleck is reportedly in the midst of fast-moving negotiations on a contract extension with Western Michigan.
Source: Western Michigan and football coach P.J. Fleck are in active negotiations on a new contract. Said to be "close" to being finalized.
— Tony Paul (@TonyPaul1984) December 8, 2016
P.J. Fleck's current contract at Western Michigan takes him through 2020. New contract will have additional years, I'm told.
— Tony Paul (@TonyPaul1984) December 8, 2016
Contract extensions for coaches have to be taken with a grain of salt, with buyouts in play to facilitate a move, and there may be some notable openings at bigger schools (Notre Dame? UCLA?) a year from now. So rumors regarding Fleck and other jobs are sure to stick around into next season, while there are also indications he wants a Power 5 job if he were to go elsewhere.
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Fleck is obviously in line for a big raise, and the $600,000 buyout in his current contract is sure to go up substantially too. But Fleck is surely still not long for Western Michigan, and another season dominating the MAC in 2017 will put him in line to leave for greener pastures.