Fleck returns to NIU

P.J. Fleck is back at Northern Illinois University.

Fleck's long-rumored return was confirmed today by NIU. He will be the team's offensive coordinator. Mike Uremovich also joined the staff as running backs coach and special teams coordinator.

“I am really excited to be back home and to re-join the Huskie Family,” Fleck said in a news release. “One of the big reasons why I came back was Dave Doeren. He contacted me about the position and it immediately sparked my interest. It gives me a chance to continue to develop myself as a coach. Responsibility equals growth, and he’s given me an enormous amount of responsibility. It’s a great challenge and I can’t wait to get started.”

Doeren said welcoming Fleck back to NIU was an easy decision.

"When I found out [former offensive coordinator] Matt Canada was leaving, the first person who came to mind was P.J.,” Doeren said. “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 [Rod] Carey as our run game coordinator, will be a great combination for our offense. It’s great to have P.J., Tracie and their son Carter back at Northern Illinois, and I know Huskie fans are going to be thrilled.”

As a senior in 2003, Fleck 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 served as former coach Jerry Kill's recruiting coordinator in 2009 and spent the past two seasons at Rutgers as the wide receivers coach under Greg Schiano.