Gophers football coach P.J. Fleck will receive an annual management bonus of $700,000, lifting his 2026 compensation to $7.9 million, in an amended contract agreement that is pending Board of Regents approval at its Feb. 12-13 meeting.
Fleck, 45, is in his 10th season as Gophers coach and has a contract that runs through the 2030 season. This amendment doesn’t change the length of that deal, though it does change some incentives that Fleck could earn depending on how the team finishes. Fleck last received a contract extension in July 2025, which included a salary of $6 million plus annual retention bonuses that started at $1 million in 2025 and increase by $100,000 each year.
Under the new deal, Fleck will make $7.9 million in 2026, which ranks 10th among the 18 Big Ten head coaches. He’ll make $8 million in 2027, $8.1 million in 2028, $8.2 million in 2029 and $8.3 million in 2030.
The new incentives include:
- $750,000 for winning seven or more Big Ten games
- $500,000 for winning six Big Ten games
- $150,000 for winning five Big Ten games
Previously, Fleck’s contract called for a $100,000 bonus for winning eight regular-season games and an additional $100,000 for winning nine regular-season games.
Fleck also would receive a new $100,000 bonus if the Gophers advance to the Big Ten championship game to go along with a previous $150,000 bonus for winning the Big Ten title.
Under the new contract, Fleck will see his postseason incentives change as well:
- He’ll receive $1.5 million if the Gophers reach the College Football Playoff title game (previously $500,000);
- He’ll receive $1 million if the Gophers reach the CFP semifinals (previously $350,000);
- He’ll receive $750,000 if the Gophers reach the CFP quarterfinals (previously $300,000);
- He’ll receive $500,000 if the Gophers play in the CFP first round (previously $250,000);
- He’ll continue to receive $100,000 if the Gophers reach any other bowl game.
The buyout percentages for both the university and Fleck do not change under the new agreement. If the university fired Fleck without cause, it would owe him 70% of his remaining compensation for the duration of the contract. If Fleck terminated the contract, he would owe $4.5 million in 2026, $3 million in 2027, $2 million in 2028, $1 million in 2029 and nothing in 2030.
