The University of Minnesota and head football coach P.J. Fleck agreed to a new contract, which was approved by the Board of Regents at their February meeting.
Fleck has established himself as one of the most successful coaches ever to lead the Golden Gophers, and the 2026 season will be his tenth at Minnesota. He is the fifth-longest tenured coach in program history and the second-longest active tenured coach in the Big Ten.
Fleck’s 66-44 record places him fourth in program history in overall wins and he is also fourth at Minnesota in Big Ten wins with 39. He ranks fifth all-time in games coached at 110, and his overall win percentage of .600 is the best in school history since 1950 and is third best among Minnesota coaches with more than 40 games under their helm behind only Henry L. Williams (.786, 1900-21) and Bernie Bierman (.716, 1932-41, ’45-50). Through 13 seasons overall as a college head coach, Fleck is 96-66 (.592).
Fleck and Williams are the only two Gopher coaches to record nine or more wins in one season three times, as Minnesota posted 11 wins in 2019 and nine in 2021 and 2022 under Fleck. Fleck is the only coach in the modern-era (since 1946) to accomplish this, as Williams posted at least nine wins in six straight seasons from 1900-1905.
Minnesota has won eight games in a season five times under Fleck (2019, 2021, 2022, 2024 and 2025), which is tied for the most with Williams in program history under one coach. Minnesota has had four eight-win seasons in the last five years, which last happened in 1901-05.
Fleck is 7-0 in bowl games, and his seven bowl wins are the most in school history by a coach. His seven bowl wins represent 50% of Minnesota’s overall 14 bowl wins as a program.
At Minnesota, Fleck has coached eight All-Americans, 10 Academic All-Americans and 488 Academic All-Big Ten performers. The eight All-Americans represent 20% of Minnesota’s All-Americans in the modern era and the 10 Academic All-Americans represent 35.7% of Minnesota’s all-time Academic All-Americans.
Fleck has had 19 players selected in the NFL Draft at Minnesota and Minnesota is one of only nine schools in the nation that can claim the distinction of having a first or second round draft pick in each of the last six years (2020-2025).
In 2025, Fleck led Minnesota to an 8-5 overall record and a 5-4 mark in Big Ten play. The Gophers ended the regular season with a win against Wisconsin to retain Paul Bunyan’s Axe and then defeated New Mexico in the Rate Bowl.
Minnesota finished the regular season 7-0 at Huntington Bank Stadium. It was the team’s first undefeated season at home since going 6-0 in 1967, the fourth undefeated home season in the modern era and 26th undefeated season at home all-time.
It was the first time Minnesota had gone 7-0 at home since 1931 (7-0), while the seven home wins tied for sixth-most in a single season. The only season in history that saw Minnesota go undefeated at home with more wins was in 1904 (11-0).
The University of Minnesota has also extended head coach Keegan Cook’s contract through the 2029 season. His extension was approved by the Board of Regents at their February meeting. Coach Cook is entering his fourth year with the Minnesota volleyball program in 2026.
During his three years as the head coach for Minnesota volleyball, the Gophers have achieved a 62-34 (.646) record, including a 37-23 (.617) Big Ten mark. The ‘U’ has made three straight NCAA Tournaments under his watch, including two trips to the Round of 32 and most recently a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2025.
“The University of Minnesota has truly become our family’s home and community,” said head coach Keegan Cook. “Thank you to President Cunningham, Director of Athletics Mark Coyle, Deputy Athletics Director/SWA Jenny Yehlen and the Board of Regents for the opportunity to continue leading this historic program.”
Under his tutelage, Minnesota players have earned 11 All-Big Ten honors and three AVCA All-America nods. Six Gophers have been named First Team All-Big Ten and two have made the All-Freshman Teams.
Outside hitter Julia Hanson was named an AVCA Second Team All-American and a First Team All-Big Ten selection in 2025, in addition to being named the AVCA Northwest Region Player of the Year. Freshmen Stella Swenson and Carly Gilk were named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team this past season, a year in which the Gophers finished 24-10 (12-8 Big Ten). The team was able to persist despite four season-ending injuries to starters and the lineup consistently featuring five freshmen. The ‘U’ made it back to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2022.
In 2024, the Gophers finished 21-11 (13-7 Big Ten) and made the NCAA Round of 32. Minnesota had numerous key wins in the second year of his tenure, including taking down two-time defending national champion and No. 1 ranked Texas during the season’s opening weekend. It was the Gophers first win over a No. 1 ranked program since the 2019 season. The ‘U’ also took down No. 7 ranked Wisconsin in a five-set thriller at Maturi Pavilion. Three Minnesota players made First Team All-Big Ten and four made the AVCA All-Region team.
His first year in 2023 resulted in the Gophers going 17-13 (12-8 Big Ten) and making the NCAA Tournament’s Round of 32. Two Gophers were named First Team All-Big Ten and two others made the second team. Five total Minnesota athletes were named AVCA All-Region. The key win of year one for coach Cook was a five-set victory over then No. 6 Oregon, a team that would go on to make the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight.
“I tell people often that coaching transitions are more perilous than they have ever been,” said Cook. “The structures of support established by the University of Minnesota and the leadership of Mark Coyle gave us the opportunity to get it right. “Thank you to all of the student-athletes, coaches and staff who helped us navigate the early years and establish a culture grounded in people, values and volleyball. We are thrilled for the future of our student-athletes and the Gopher volleyball program.”
Minnesota is in the midst of spring practice and will compete next on Friday, April 3 at Iowa State.
(info and photos courtesy of Gopher Sports)
