PJ Fleck, got his start in coaching as a GA at Ohio State in 2006. He got that position because one of his NIU coaches was a former roommate of Jim Tressel. The next year, his former head coach, Joe Novak, gave PJ his first full time coaching job, coaching receivers at NIU. That year Joe Novak retired, replaced by Jerry Kill who retained Fleck for two more years.
Without his NIU coaches helping Fleck get a GA position and an assistant position, Fleck may not be a head coach today.
UB Men's Basketball just showed the power of continuity.