P.J. Fleck’s previous success on the field — and in contract negotiations — now affords him a higher level of job security.

The Gophers football coach has a buyout of approximately $22.9 million, if the U were to remove him without cause before the end of 2024, according to his new contract amendment in March.

Estimates of this number popped up online after the Gophers fell to 2-2 with a 31-14 loss to rival Iowa on Saturday. It’s a sign of frustration over the middling start to a season with a difficult Big Ten schedule, but there is no indication Fleck’s seat is actually getting hotter.

Athletics Director Mark Coyle hired Fleck in 2017 and reaffirmed his faith in the now eighth-year coach by adding nearly $6 million in annual retention bonuses after UCLA showed in interest in Fleck last winter. Fleck has received a handful of previous contract extensions and amendments, including after other instances where he was linked to job openings.

That $22 million buyout figure is huge on face value and even bigger considering the added expenses athletic departments are expected to add as soon as next year. Revenue sharing with athletes might cost programs more than $20 million each year and is not expected to be offset by larger revenue in new TV contracts.

This economic landscape would make it difficult to move on from Fleck — if, again, there were any substantive interest. Coyle talked with the Pioneer Press in August about looking for financial savings across the athletic department.

Coyle said he was “disappointed” with the 6-7 record in 2023, but added in August: “I feel really confident with direction we’re going and feel like we’re gonna have a really positive year this year.”

Fleck earns $6 million in annual salary over the next five years for a total of $30 million. He is also due a total of $5.3 million in annual retention bonuses across that same timeframe, starting at $700,000 this year and increasing $100,000 each year to $1.2 million in 2029.

Fleck’s contract states he would be owed 65 percent of base salary, supplemental compensation and retention bonuses that would have been paid over the remainder of the contract’s term.

When Fleck stacked up successful seasons (11-2 in 2019 and 9-4 in both 2021 and ’22), the other buyout figure — the amount another school and Fleck would owe if he left for another job — was of primary focus. But as the Gophers have struggled this fall, eyes have gone in the opposite direction.

Fleck has a 52-36 overall record with the Gophers, including 29-33 in the Big Ten. The Gophers slipped to a 6-7 season in 2023 and are 2-2 this year.

Minnesota led 14-7 against both North Carolina and Iowa this season, but have been outscored 36-3 combined in the second half of those losses. Fleck was 40-3 when leading at the half going into 2023, but is 5-4 since then. The U lost leads to Northwestern and Illinois last season en route to a 5-7 regular season, 3-6 in Big Ten.

The Gophers are a nine-point underdog against No. 12 Michigan in Ann Arbor this Saturday and will host No. 13 USC at Huntington Bank Stadium on Oct. 5.

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