Big Ten Football: 3 most overrated head coaches ahead of 2023

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Jan 1, 2020; Tampa, Florida, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach PJ Fleck reacts during the fourth quarter against the Auburn Tigers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports /

We hear all the time about how good of a coach PJ Fleck is and how he could potentially leave for a better spot, but he has yet to truly prove why he’s considered one of the best the Big Ten West has to offer — and, keep in mind, the Big Ten West is the much weaker of the two divisions.

Before he came to Minnesota, he turned Western Michigan into a MAC powerhouse, even going 13-1 in his final season before accepting the job in Minneapolis.

The Gophers were a rather dormant program but he led them to a bowl game in year two and then won 11 games in year three with an Outback Bowl victory. The COVID year set him back (like everyone else) but then he won nine games in back-to-back seasons in 2021 and 2022.

And while his 44-27 record at Minnesota seems solid, he has choked away back-to-back chances at making the Big Ten title game. He has failed to win the Big Ten West in his six seasons and that’s what he was brought to Minnesota to do. The West is one of the weakest divisions in the Power Five and yet he can’t seem to rise to the top, for whatever reason.

And we’re supposed to crown this guy one of the conference’s top coaches? Come on, man. Wait until he actually proves it.

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