• BEING P.J. Fleck, a Four-Part Series, Debuts Aug. 2 on ESPNU

ESPNU will air a four-part series chronicling new University of Minnesota head football coach P.J. Fleck, one of college football’s youngest head coaches, as he prepares for his first season with the Gophers. The documentary-style, multi-episode program follows the day-to-day life of Fleck who burst on the national scene in 2016 as he led Western Michigan to an undefeated regular season, the school’s first since 1941, and berth in the New Year’s Six where his Broncos played Wisconsin in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. The first episode of BEING P.J. Fleck airs on Wednesday, Aug. 2, at 9 p.m. ET, with a new episode airing each of the following three Wednesdays (Aug. 9, 16, 23). All episodes will be available On Demand on both TV and streaming devices.

“To no surprise, P.J. is all heart, all the time… no matter what he is doing, no matter what time of day,” said co-executive producer Bo Mattingly. “Throughout the filming, which continues for a few more weeks, we capture his personality, passion and drive with his family, team and others he interacts with in various situations.”

BEING P.J. Fleck, co-produced by Sports Talk with Bo Mattingly and JM Associates, follows the energetic and youthful coach throughout the offseason, and documents the head coach in various settings: as he visits local hospitals, raising the spirits of its patients, giving motivational speeches around the country and preparing the Minnesota Golden Gophers for their upcoming season by holding his players to an unwavering high standard. Fans will also get a glimpse of Fleck’s upbringing, including seeing his hometown, hearing from his family and understanding the personal impact of two major coaching influences — New Orleans Saints defensive coach Mike Nolan and current Youngstown State President Jim Tressel, who won a national championship as a head coach at Ohio State.

More About P.J. Fleck
Fleck spent four seasons as head coach at Western Michigan University (2013-2016), culminating with the aforementioned undefeated season 2016.  Prior to his head coaching job at WMU, Fleck served in assistant coaching roles with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL (2012), Rutgers (2010-11) Northern Illinois University (2007-08), and as an offensive graduate assistant with Ohio State (2006). His career as a player included a stellar college stint at Northern Illinois University (1999-2003), where during his senior season with the Huskies he led the team with 77 catches for 1028 yards and six touchdowns. He also played two seasons in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers (2004-05).

In partnership with ESPN, Big Ten Network will air each episode after its original airing on ESPNU.

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