Bringing former Northern Illinois all-star P.J. Fleck back to his alma mater to coach the Huskie wide receivers was one of the easiest personnel decisions NIU head coach Joe Novak has ever made. Fleck, a native of Sugar Grove, Ill., came back to Northern in January and begins his first season as a member of the coaching staff in 2007.

 

"P.J. is a guy that was a great player, because he was a smart player, and those are the kind of ex-players that make good coaches," Novak said. "Since then, he's gone on and gotten some great experience with the 49ers, and last year with Ohio State. He's grown as a football coach, he brings great enthusiasm and we're excited to have him back as part of our program."

 

A leader on Northern Illinois' 2003 10-win team, Fleck began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at top-ranked Ohio State in 2006. Fleck worked with the Buckeye offense, specifically the OSU tight ends and wide receivers, and also assisted with the special teams in his one season in Columbus, which culminated in a trip to the BCS National Championship Game in Glendale, Arizona.

 

He began his coaching career after two seasons as a member of the NFL's San Francisco 49ers. Fleck, who signed with the 49ers as a free agent in 2004, spent most of that season on the practice squad before making an appearance versus New England late in the year. He was placed on the injured reserve roster in 2005 before "retiring" from professional football in June 2006.

 

Fleck earned first team All Mid-American Conference honors for Northern Illinois in 2003 while helping NIU to a 7-0 start that included upset victories over Maryland and Alabama. 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. His 14 grabs for 234 yards in the Ohio game that year are the second-best single game totals in school history and earned him national player of the week accolades from USAToday.com.

 

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.

 

Fleck originally came to NIU from Kaneland High School in Maple Park where he was an all-state honoree in football, basketball and track. On the gridiron, Kaneland twice went undefeated (14-0) while winning a pair of Class 3A state titles during his career; he set a state record with 95 catches for 1,548 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior. He caught 199 career passes for 3,121 yards and 34 scores with at least one catch in 40 straight games.

 

A 2004 graduate of Northern Illinois in elementary education, Fleck and his wife, the former Tracie Striebel, 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) and the P.J. Fleck Scholarship Fund.

 

ABOUT FLECK
Coaching Experience
2007-present, Northern Illinois, WR
2006, Ohio State, GA
 

Playing Experience
San Francisco 49ers, 2004-05
Northern Illinois, 1999-2001, 2003
 

Postseason Experience As a Coach
2007 BCS Championship Game
 

Education
College: Northern Illinois (2004)
High School: Kaneland (Ill.) HS (1999)
 

Personal
Birthdate: Nov. 29, 1980
Birthplace: Berwyn, Ill.
Hometown: Sugar Grove, Ill.
Family: Wife, the former Tracie Striebel