WMU makes Fleck youngest head coach

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) - Western Michigan has hired 32-year-old Tampa Bay Buccaneers assistant P.J. Fleck, making him the youngest coach in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Fleck was introduced as the new coach at a news conference Tuesday in Kalamazoo, Mich.

“We wanted a coach that would bring limitless energy, passion, enthusiasm and opportunity to our football program both on and off the field, and we know that Coach Fleck is that person," WMU Athletic Director Kathy Beauregard said in a statement Tuesday. "He stresses discipline and accountability in a positive and consistent manner and is someone that has been a winner at every level of his career."

Monday, according to Director of Athletic Media Relations Mat Kanan, Fleck and his wife welcomed a daughter to their family Monday. Fleck's wife went into labor Monday afternoon.

Fleck has worked for Bucs coach Greg Schiano the past three years. Fleck was the receivers coach at Rutgers before following Schiano to Tampa Bay this season to do the same job.

Fleck played receiver for Northern Illinois from 1999-2003 and spent two season in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers before starting his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Ohio State under Jim Tressel in 2006. He spent three seasons as wide receivers coach at NIU before being hired by Schiano in 2010.

He surpasses Matt Campbell of Toledo as the youngest head coach in the FBS. Campbell turned 33 in November. Newly hired Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury also turned 33 this year. Fleck turned 32 in November.

WMU fired Bill Cubit with a year left on his contract the day after the Broncos lost their season-finale to Eastern Michigan on Nov. 17. Western Michigan finished 4-8 and 2-6 in the Mid-American Conference, struggling to recover when senior quarterback Alex Carder injured his middle finger on his right hand during a win over Connecticut in September and missed six conference games.

Cubit was 51-47 overall and 36-27 in the MAC over eight seasons. He led the program to three bowl games.