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Minnesota’s Fleck ‘saddened’ by criticism from ex-coach

February 22, 2019 GMT

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FILE - In this Dec. 28, 2015, file photo, former Minnesota head football coach Jerry Kill watches from the sidelines during the first half of the Quick Lane Bowl NCAA college football game against Central Michigan in Detroit. Kill says he won't speak again to P.J. Fleck, saying the current Golden Gophers coach is too selfish. Kill spoke to Sirius XM radio Tuesday, Feb 19, 2019, and said he thinks Fleck is "about himself" instead of the players. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota football coach P.J. Fleck says he’s “saddened” by critical remarks from former coach Jerry Kill suggesting Fleck cares more about himself than his players.

Kill, who coached the Gophers from 2011-15, said on Sirius XM radio this week that Fleck’s “ego gets carried away” and he’s “about himself” rather than his players.

Kill, now the athletic director at Southern Illinois , acknowledged he was bothered that Fleck talked about needing to “completely change the culture” when he took over the program in 2017.

Fleck said Thursday on KTLK-AM that he respects Kill but doesn’t understand the criticism.

He says “the one thing that’s really important to me is our players.”

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