Call it coincidence or fate, former NIU wide receiver P.J. Fleck was recently named an offensive graduate assistant for Ohio State.

“Tracy — Fleck’s wife — and I had to make a huge decision,” Fleck said. “I didn’t know what the future would hold for me, but it will be a great opportunity for me at OSU.”

So, why didn’t Fleck come back to NIU?

“This had been touched on a few years ago, but I talked to Tressel for P.J.,” said NIU football coach Joe Novak. “Before P.J. was going to retire we offered him a job, but he said he still wanted to play. So, we went a different direction.”

Fleck spent the last two years playing wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers but was released after last season. Despite being offered a position on the 49ers coaching staff, Fleck still felt he could catch on with another team, and met with the Chicago Bears.

“I didn’t work out much for them,” Fleck said. “I visited the facility, talked to offensive coordinator Ron Turner and watched practice. I thought it went well, but they didn’t from a physical aspect.”

As a senior for NIU, Fleck caught 77 passes for 1,028 yards and six touchdowns over 12 games.

Novak said if the chance comes around, he’d like Fleck to be back in red and black.

“I decided to walk away and start the next aspect of my life,” Fleck said. “But I‘d love to come back and coach at NIU.”

Sean Connor is an NIU football beat reporter for the Northern Star.