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10 most overrated head coaches in college football ahead of 2022 season

By Connor Muldowney

Nov 20, 2021; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin walks off the field following the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Rutgers 28-0. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2021; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin walks off the field following the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Rutgers 28-0. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 28, 2021; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck against the West Virginia Mountaineers in the first half of the Guaranteed Rate Bowl at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2021; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck against the West Virginia Mountaineers in the first half of the Guaranteed Rate Bowl at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Another coach that the media fell in love with before his time in the Power Five and even since he took over at Minnesota is PJ Fleck.

Fleck started gaining national attention for his crazy sideline antics and high energy such as sprinting down the field at the end of quarters to screaming “Row the Boat” during post-game interviews. He was considered one of the best young football coaches after he turned Western Michigan around in just one year. He went 1-11 with the Broncos in his first season in Kalamazoo and then 8-5 over the next two years. He finished with a 13-1 season and Cotton Bowl appearance.

That was enough to earn him a job in the Power Five at Minnesota. He always just seemed like a Big Ten guy as he’s from Illinois and spent time as an assistant at Ohio State and Rutgers. Minnesota seemed like a good fit for him and he’s done a decent job, but certain people still drool over him despite a 35-23 record over five seasons with three bowl berths.

Fleck has won more than seven games just two times and he has five or fewer wins twice which also isn’t great. He isn’t recruiting at a super high level and he isn’t winning consistently. I think he’s good for Minnesota, but he’s not a top-half Big Ten coach yet he’s treated as one.

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