OT: PJ Fleck now under fire for toxic culture
Former Players, Staff Reveal Troubling Allegations of Toxic Culture Under P.J. Fleck
It's a long piece, worth reading. The snippet below isn't really the most important part, just the one I found most ridiculous.
Over the last month, Front Office Sports interviewed several former players and staff members about Fleck’s six seasons as the Gophers’ head coach. They described an environment fraught with intimidation and toxicity and referenced the “Fleck Bank” — a system that allowed players with enough “coins” to get away with positive drug tests, and other violations of team rules.
[...]
Dan Nichol, Minnesota’s head football strength and conditioning coach who followed Fleck over from Western Michigan and interned at Iowa under disgraced strength coach Chris Doyle, gathered the team together after Fleck was hired, one of the former players said. The instruction was simple: Clap whenever Fleck entered the locker room.
“We had to [practice giving Fleck ovations] multiple times — the first time, because some other people in the back were not moving as quick as he wanted,” a third player told FOS.
Two other former players said that Fleck would reenter a room if he didn’t like the ovation he received.
I basically agree. There were things that could be real issues (how injuries are dealt with, drug tests etc) but those were mixed in with clapping and memorizing acronyms. I suspect every coach has a culture that not every player buys into.
I’ve had a few bosses who would’ve loved a standing O when they walked in the room. They were all appropriately hated.
I'll applaud for you when you come in the room.
Only my kids are required to do that.
Fleck sounds like your typical narcissistic mega church pastor
Joel Osteen finds you offensive.
Joel Osteen finds people taking shelter from a hurricane in his church offensive, too.
How many Schrute bucks would fill up a Fleck bank?
I'll give you a billion Stanley nickels...
Is that at the same unicorn to leprechaun conversion ratio?
Lol people are so weird
Football coaches in general seem to be drawn from the extra weird ends of the bell curve though.
i am somehow not remotely surprised
At least they didn’t have to mimic rowing a boat when Fleck entered the room.
This sounds like dollar store Tony Robbins, hard to see the “toxic” more laughable. I think recruits have the choice to commit to that style of program or find another one maybe like Georgia where NASCAR culture seems to be rampant. Face it these head coaches are akin to politicians and pastors.
Dude’s funny I thought I remember hearing a story where his wife was sitting in a recruits lap or something to that effect.
I'm gonna pass on this one. Feels like some B1G media days clickbait.
You all should look into why PJ comes off as fiery and the way he is.
I'm gonna guess he likes dipping into the devil's dandruff.
A lot of his fiery personality is due to his young sons death.
Wasn't aware of that and sorry to hear about it.
Row row row your boat
Clap for Coach PJ
Coins go in the Flecky Bank
Doin' drugs? OK!
This story is bizarre enough to entertain me. Thank you. People are weird, man.
There’s no way he would leave a room if he didn’t like his ovation. I’m sure there is truth in there, even a lot of it. This part is ridiculous imho
Always take these claims with a grain of salt but Fleck always seemed like a rah-rah type who probably grates on people if they don't act the way he wants. He seems not unlike Fitzgerald in that he's a bit of an asshole who has a cult of personality around him but because he coached in the West he could string together successful enough seasons that a lot of it could be overlooked.
Not sure this rises to Shrek level. But picturing Fleck leaving the room in a huff because he doesn’t like the ovation is funny AF
Jeez, I think I'm doing it wrong.
"HEY. Alright everybody, shut up, pay attention, and we'll be done in no time. You, finish up the text, put the phone down, let's GO PEOPLE!". Works like a charm, every time, yep.
Even the maroon who takes a call in the middle of my words, stays in his spot, and then suffers all eyes on him, including mine and his boss's. "Honey? Sorry, I need to call you back". THAT GUY gets applause from the entire conference room and is now in charge of coffee runs for the warehouse for the remainder of the month. Yeah, like that. 👍
I should probably walk out and then re-enter the room and start, "HEY. Alright everybody .... "
Sounds like fun (/s).
An old neighbor of mine in Kalamazoo used to be the nanny for the Fleck family. Let’s just say the way he wrecked his previous marriage is beyond despicable. He’s an arrogant schmuck
Fraud going to fraud
It is like the movie The Menu. "I love you all." "We love you, chef!"
RIP sous chef Jeremy Louden.
I would not vibe with PJ and his false energy.
It would be hard to play for someone you don’t respect.
You mean to tell me the guy is an egomaniac? I'm shocked. Shocked, I tell you.
Who gives a Fleck?
These stories are strange these days. There is abuse and misdeeds plenty but they throw in random stuff like "we had to clap for our coach" I dont know its strange for sure but toxic?
In the Northwestern story someone said another player asked him "why arent you playing soccer?" I mean for sure jerky but that is a key talking point?
I had an employee that said when she was a kid they kicked her on "national kick a ginger day" and was told she had no soul. Everyone laughed at her story and went about their day. That story and everyone's reaction that day has stayed with me for a long time. We pick and choose what mean hateful things we allow these days.
Wow. What a crime to motivate players.