Minnesota’s PJ Fleck Kicks Off 2020 AFCA Convention Speaker Lineup
December 30, 2019
Minnesota Head Coach, PJ Fleck, highlights a list of prominent FBS head coaches that will headline the 2020 AFCA Convention in Nashville, Tennessee on January 12-14, 2020. Fleck returns to the big stage as this year’s Kickoff Speaker, opening the convention Sunday afternoon.
Along with Fleck, there will be seven other current FBS Head Coaches that will speak during the 3 day event. The general session speakers take center stage on Monday & Tuesday with Blake Anderson, Arkansas State; Dave Clawson, Wake Forest; Sonny Dykes, SMU; James Franklin, Penn State; Gary Patterson, TCU; Matt Rhule, Baylor. The convention wraps up on Tuesday afternoon with FBS National Coach Of The Year nominee, Kyle Whittingham, closing out the event as the Victory Formation Speaker.
KICKOFF SPEAKER
PJ FLECK – University of Minnesota
PJ Fleck recently finished his third season as head coach at the University of Minnesota. After posting a 10-win regular season, Fleck and the Golden Gophers earned a berth to the Outback Bowl, where they will take on Auburn. Additionally, for the second time in his career, Coach Fleck earned FBS Region 3 Coach of the Year honors from the AFCA.
GENERAL SESSION SPEAKERS
BLAKE ANDERSON – Arkansas State University
Blake Anderson recently completed his sixth year as head coach at Arkansas State University. Coach Anderson and the Red Wolves earned a berth to play in the Camellia Bowl, where they defeated FIU. During his tenure, Anderson has led Arkansas State to six consecutive winning seasons, six straight bowl appearances, and back to back Sun-Belt Conference championships in 2015 and 2016.
DAVE CLAWSON – Wake Forest University
Dave Clawson recently completed his sixth season as head coach at Wake Forest University. Heading an unprecedented turnaround for Wake Forest, Coach Clawson has authored four consecutive bowl eligible teams, winning the previous three bowl games played in. This year the Demon Deacons earned a Pinstripe Bowl berth.
SONNY DYKES – SMU
Sonny Dykes recently completed his second season as head coach at Southern Methodist University. Finishing with an impressive 10-2 regular season record, Dykes has led the Mustangs to a 2019 Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl appearance.
James Franklin – Penn State
James Franklin recently completed his ninth season as a collegiate head coach and his sixth at Penn State University. Since taking over the program, he has led the Nittany Lions to six consecutive bowl game appearances, including the Rose, Fiesta, and Cotton Bowls, as well as a Big Ten Championship. Franklin and the Nittany Lions recently defeated the Memphis Tigers in the 2019 Cotton Bowl.
GARY PATTERSON – TCU
Gary Patterson recently finished his 19th season as head coach at Texas Christian University, making him the nation’s second longest tenured head coach. During his tenure at TCU, Coach Patterson has been named National Coach of the Year by the Walter Camp Football Foundation, Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association and Sporting News.
MATT RHULE – Carolina Panthers
Matt Rhule was just named the Carolina Panthers head coach. He is the 5th head coach in franchise history. Prior to making the move to the NFL, Rhule completed his third season as the head coach at Baylor University. After leading the Bears to 11 wins, a No. 7 national ranking, their first berth in the Big 12 Championship, and the Sugar Bowl. Rhule was voted the Chuck Neinas Coach of the Year by his peers. He also earned Big 12 Coach of the Year honors as well as FBS Region 4 Coach of the Year honors from the AFCA.
VICTORY FORMATION
Kyle Whittingham – University of Utah
Kyle Whittingham recently completed his 15th season as head coach for the University of Utah. After leading the Utes to 11 regular season wins, the Pac-12 South Division title, and a Valero Alamo Bowl berth, Whittingham earned FBS Region 5 Coach of the Year honors from the AFCA. During his tenure at Utah, Coach Whittingham has led the Utes to 14 bowl game appearances, with a record of 11-2 in their previous 13 bowl games.
For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com. For more interesting articles, check out The Insider and subscribe to our weekly email.
If you are interested in more in-depth articles and videos, please become an AFCA member. You can find out more information about membership and specific member benefits on the AFCA Membership Overview page. If you are ready to join, please fill out the AFCA Membership Application.
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Minnesota Head Coach, PJ Fleck, highlights a list of prominent FBS head coaches that will headline the 2020 AFCA Convention in Nashville, Tennessee on January 12-14, 2020. Fleck returns to the big stage as this year’s Kickoff Speaker, opening the convention Sunday afternoon.
Along with Fleck, there will be seven other current FBS Head Coaches that will speak during the 3 day event. The general session speakers take center stage on Monday & Tuesday with Blake Anderson, Arkansas State; Dave Clawson, Wake Forest; Sonny Dykes, SMU; James Franklin, Penn State; Gary Patterson, TCU; Matt Rhule, Baylor. The convention wraps up on Tuesday afternoon with FBS National Coach Of The Year nominee, Kyle Whittingham, closing out the event as the Victory Formation Speaker.
KICKOFF SPEAKER
PJ FLECK – University of Minnesota
PJ Fleck recently finished his third season as head coach at the University of Minnesota. After posting a 10-win regular season, Fleck and the Golden Gophers earned a berth to the Outback Bowl, where they will take on Auburn. Additionally, for the second time in his career, Coach Fleck earned FBS Region 3 Coach of the Year honors from the AFCA.
GENERAL SESSION SPEAKERS
BLAKE ANDERSON – Arkansas State University
Blake Anderson recently completed his sixth year as head coach at Arkansas State University. Coach Anderson and the Red Wolves earned a berth to play in the Camellia Bowl, where they defeated FIU. During his tenure, Anderson has led Arkansas State to six consecutive winning seasons, six straight bowl appearances, and back to back Sun-Belt Conference championships in 2015 and 2016.
DAVE CLAWSON – Wake Forest University
Dave Clawson recently completed his sixth season as head coach at Wake Forest University. Heading an unprecedented turnaround for Wake Forest, Coach Clawson has authored four consecutive bowl eligible teams, winning the previous three bowl games played in. This year the Demon Deacons earned a Pinstripe Bowl berth.
SONNY DYKES – SMU
Sonny Dykes recently completed his second season as head coach at Southern Methodist University. Finishing with an impressive 10-2 regular season record, Dykes has led the Mustangs to a 2019 Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl appearance.
James Franklin – Penn State
James Franklin recently completed his ninth season as a collegiate head coach and his sixth at Penn State University. Since taking over the program, he has led the Nittany Lions to six consecutive bowl game appearances, including the Rose, Fiesta, and Cotton Bowls, as well as a Big Ten Championship. Franklin and the Nittany Lions recently defeated the Memphis Tigers in the 2019 Cotton Bowl.
GARY PATTERSON – TCU
Gary Patterson recently finished his 19th season as head coach at Texas Christian University, making him the nation’s second longest tenured head coach. During his tenure at TCU, Coach Patterson has been named National Coach of the Year by the Walter Camp Football Foundation, Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association and Sporting News.
MATT RHULE – Carolina Panthers
Matt Rhule was just named the Carolina Panthers head coach. He is the 5th head coach in franchise history. Prior to making the move to the NFL, Rhule completed his third season as the head coach at Baylor University. After leading the Bears to 11 wins, a No. 7 national ranking, their first berth in the Big 12 Championship, and the Sugar Bowl. Rhule was voted the Chuck Neinas Coach of the Year by his peers. He also earned Big 12 Coach of the Year honors as well as FBS Region 4 Coach of the Year honors from the AFCA.
VICTORY FORMATION
Kyle Whittingham – University of Utah
Kyle Whittingham recently completed his 15th season as head coach for the University of Utah. After leading the Utes to 11 regular season wins, the Pac-12 South Division title, and a Valero Alamo Bowl berth, Whittingham earned FBS Region 5 Coach of the Year honors from the AFCA. During his tenure at Utah, Coach Whittingham has led the Utes to 14 bowl game appearances, with a record of 11-2 in their previous 13 bowl games.
For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com. For more interesting articles, check out The Insider and subscribe to our weekly email.
If you are interested in more in-depth articles and videos, please become an AFCA member. You can find out more information about membership and specific member benefits on the AFCA Membership Overview page. If you are ready to join, please fill out the AFCA Membership Application.
