Minnesota extended its head coach through the 2030 season on Wednesday.
When it comes to Wisconsin Badgers fans, no coach is more disliked than Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck.
Known by Badgers fans for his brash persona, Fleck and the Gophers agreed to a contract extension on Wednesday that will keep him in Minnesota through the 2030 season.
Fleck’s $6 million salary will remain the same, but there is a slight uptick in retention bonuses, according to the Associated Press.
“Fleck’s annual $6 million salary remains the same. The retention bonus provision added to his deal in an amendment last year after UCLA pursued him will pay Fleck $1 million for staying at Minnesota through the end of 2025. The annual sweetener increases to $1.2 million for 2026, $1.3 million for 2027, $1.4 million for 2028, $1.5 million for 2029 and $1.6 million for 2030, an additional $2.3 million from the previous amounts.
“Including the retention bonus, Fleck is tied for 11th in coach compensation in the 18-team Big Ten. The Gophers are 58-39 in eight seasons under Fleck, including 6-0 in bowl games and 34-36 in Big Ten play. His overall winning percentage is third-best in program history among coaches with at least 45 games.”
Fleck’s contract was previously through the 2029 season, so the new deal tacks on one year.
Minnesota finished 8-5 last season, including a win in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl over Virginia Tech. That followed a down 2023 season where they went 5-7 before earning a bowl appearance against Bowling Green and winning. However, they had gone 9-4 in both 2021 and 2022 under Fleck.
Wisconsin is 1-3 in its last four appearances against Minnesota, getting blown out 24-7 this past year in a demoralizing finish to the season. They’ll look to turn the tides at Camp Randall Stadium this upcoming season when they host the Gophers in the annual season finale.