P. J. Fleck

P. J. Fleck

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Wide receivers coach
Wide receiver
Personal information
Date of birth: November 29, 1980 (1980-11-29)
Place of birth: Sugar Grove, Illinois
Career information
College: Northern Illinois
Undrafted in 2004
Debuted in 2004 for the San Francisco 49ers
Last played in 2004 for the San Francisco 49ers
Career history
As player: San Francisco 49ers (2004–2005)
As coach: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2012–present) (Wide receivers coach)
Career highlights and awards
All-MAC (2003)
Stats at NFL.com

Phillip John Fleck (born on November 29, 1980) is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the wide receivers coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL), a position he assumed in February 2012. Fleck played as a wide receiver for the University of Northern Illinois from 1999 to 2003, and the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL from 2004 to 2005.

Playing career

Fleck started his playing career at Kaneland High School located in Maple Park, Illinois where he helped the Knights win back to back state championships in 1997 and 1998. Fleck also ran track and played basketball.

Upon graduation, Fleck attended Northern Illinois University where he played wide receiver. As a senior, he led the Huskies with 77 catches for 1,028 yards and six touchdowns, a reception total that still ranks second on the school's single-season list. Fleck still owns the school record for career punt returns (87), is second in punt return yards (716), ranks third in career catches (179) and is fourth in receiving yards (2,162). He was a second-team Academic All-American as a senior and was twice voted team captain by his Huskie teammates. He had two incredible catches that made ESPN's Top Ten during the same week.

He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the 49ers in 2004. Fleck spent the 2005 season on injured reserve after a shoulder injury. In 2006, he was released by the 49ers.

Coaching career

Fleck began his coaching career in 2006 as an offensive graduate assistant at Ohio State University under head coach Jim Tressel. He worked directly with the Buckeyes' tight ends and assisted with the special teams.

In 2007, P.J. Fleck was hired by Northern Illinois University to be one of the three newest additions to the Huskie football coaching staff as a wide receivers coach. Fleck would replace Carnelius Cruz.

In 2010, P.J. Fleck was hired by Rutgers University as their Wide Receiver Coach for the winter season.

On February 2, 2012, he was hired as the offensive coordinator at Northern Illinois University. Coach Dave Doeren said the following about Fleck's hiring, "We spoke at length about why this is the right place for him. It was very evident to me that he bleeds NIU, and he would have tremendous pride and passion working not just for me, but for the university to help continue what we started last year, and really what he started here as a player. His recruiting abilities and passing game expertise, working alongside Coach Carey as our run game coordinator, will be a great combination for our offense." Just one day later, on February 3, 2012, Fleck abruptly resigned the NIU position to accept a position as wide-receivers coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Personal life

A 2004 graduate of Northern Illinois in elementary education, Fleck is married to the former Tracie Striebel. The couple has one son, Carter Joseph (C.J.).

Fleck and his wife annually host the P.J. Fleck "Live Your Dream" Football Camp that benefits the Juvenile Arthritis Foundation (Friends of Carra), Alapecia Foundation (Locks of Love), Coach Kill's Cancer Fund and the P.J. Fleck Scholarship Fund.

External links

• Northern Illinois bio