P . J . Fleck Phillip John Fleck ( born November 29 , 1980 ) is an American football coach and former player . He is currently the head coach at Western Michigan University . Fleck played as a wide receiver for Northern Illinois University 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 . He set a state record with 95 catches for 1 , 548 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior . For his career , Fleck caught 199 passes for 3 , 121 yards and 34 scores with at least one catch in 40 straight games . 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 was signed as an undrafted free agent by the 49ers in 2004 . 49ers head coach Dennis Erickson labeled Fleck a " frickin ' warrior " during training camp . Fleck spent a majority of the 2004 season on the 49ers practice squad before being promoted to the 53 man roster and appearing in the 49ers final game of the season . Fleck spent the 2005 season on injured reserve after suffering a significant shoulder injury during the preseason . In the summer of 2006 , Fleck was released by the 49ers . The day he was released , 49ers head coach Mike Nolan noted that coaching could be in Fleck ' s future , stating " If that ' s something he wants to do , I think he ' d be very good at it . " Assistant 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 end s and assisted with the special teams . In 2007 , Fleck was hired by Northern Illinois head coach Joe Novak as wide receivers coach , replacing Carnelius Cruz . Fleck was retained as wide receivers coach by new head coach Jerry Kill in 2008 . In 2010 , Fleck was hired by Rutgers University as the wide receivers coach under head coach Greg Schiano . 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 of the NFL . The move reunited him with Schiano , who had recently left Rutgers for the Buccaneers head coaching job . During his time with the Buccaneers , Fleck was known to wear cleats during practice , often running routes and simulating defenses with the receivers . Head coaching career . On December 17 , 2012 , Western Michigan University announced the hiring of Fleck as the new head coach , making him the youngest head coach and the first ever head coach in the Football Bowl Subdivision ( FBS ) of college football born in the 1980s . Fleck signed a five - year contract worth $ 392 , 000 per season that includes an assistant coaches ’ salary pool of $ 825 , 000 . The previous head coach , Bill Cubit , earned $ 375 , 000 per year with an assistants salary pool of $ 723 , 000 . With the increased budget , Fleck intends to hire a dedicated recruiting coordinator – a first for the WMU football program . Other candidates expressing interest in the job included Syracuse defensive coordinator ( and later head coach ) Scott Shafer , and Kent State offensive coordinator Brian Rock , both former WMU assistants . WMU had also been in contact with Indiana State head coach Trent Miles and North Dakota State head coach Craig Bohl , both of whom declined interest or withdrew from consideration Personal life . Fleck is a 2004 graduate of Northern Illinois University with a bachelor ' s degree in elementary education . Fleck is married to the former Tracie Striebel . The couple has one son , Carter Joseph ( C . J . ) , and a daughter , Paisley . Paisley was born on December 17 , 2012 , the same day Fleck was announced as the new coach at Western Michigan University . Fleck is an avid runner and completed his first marathon in April 2009 . Fleck and his wife annually host the P . J . Fleck " Live Your Dream " Football Camp that benefits the Juvenile Arthritis Foundation ( Friends of Carra ) , Alopecia Foundation ( Locks of Love ) , Coach Kill ' s Cancer Fund , and the P . J . Fleck Scholarship Fund .