Eastern Michigan Athletics
Football
vs
Ohio
Oct 25 (Sat)
TBA
RJ Fleming
- Title:
- Assistant Coach/Wide Receivers
- Email:
- fflemin2@emich.edu
- Phone:
- 734.487.2160
Entering his first year at EMU is RJ Fleming, who comes to Ypsilanti after spending the past two years at Liberty University. Fleming will serve as EMU’s wide receivers coach.
After a successful collegiate career, Fleming has spent the past six seasons climbing the coaching ranks with stops at the NAIA, NCAA Division II, and Football Bowl Subdivision ranks.
Fleming spent the last two years with Liberty University, working with the wide receivers in an offensive quality control role.
The 2020 season was the best in school history for the Flames, after finishing the year ranked No. 17 in the Associated Press poll and No. 18 in the Coaches Poll. Both national rankings were the highest ever in program history. The finish also marked the first time Liberty had concluded a season ranked in the final national polls of the year.
The Flames finished the season with a 10-1 record, tying the program’s record for wins in a season.
Liberty had a season of “firsts” in 2020, including the team’s first-ever national ranking, first win over an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opponent, the best start in school history (8-0 to start 2020), first-ever win over a top-25 FBS program and back-to-back bowl game wins.
Liberty defeated a pair of ACC foes in Syracuse and in-state opponent Virginia Tech. The two wins made Liberty the first non-Power 5 team to post a pair of wins over Power 5 schools in the same season since Houston in 2015.
On offense, Liberty’s renowned high-powered offense ranked 15th in total offense with 482.7 yards per game. The balanced attack saw 252.4 yards a contest pile up on the ground, while 230.4 yards a game came via the air. At 38.2 points per game, Liberty wide receivers averaged 13.1 yards per catch and tallied 25 scores.
In 2019, Fleming helped the Flames post an 8-5 record in their first full season at the FBS level. Liberty defeated Georgia Southern in the FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl to become just the third team in NCAA history to win a bowl game during its first season at the FBS level.
Wide receiver Antonio Gandy-Golden finished his career as the program’s all-time career leader in receiving yards (3,814), receptions (240) and touchdowns. Gandy-Golden was a semifinalist for the 2019 Biletnikoff Award and was named to the Phil Steele All-America team.
As a team, Liberty finished the 2019 season ranked No. 21 in the country in passing offense (288.9 yards per game) and No. 32 in total offense (439.4 yards per game).
Before arriving in Lynchburg, Va., Fleming spent time as an offensive graduate assistant working with the wide receivers at Big 12 Conference member TCU (2016-18). During his tenure with Horned Frogs, TCU compiled 23 victories, four top-25 upsets, and three bowl appearances (2016 AutoZone Liberty Bowl, 2017 Valero Alamo Bowl, 2018 Cheez-It Bowl).
The 2018 campaign saw Jalen Reagor earn All-Big 12 recognition as he set a TCU record with a touchdown catch in seven consecutive games. His 72 receptions and 1,061 receiving yards were both second for a single season in Horned Frogs’ history.
In 2017, KaVontae Turpin earned All-Big 12 recognition as he became the only player nationally to have touchdowns via receiving, rushing, passing, punt return and kickoff return in the same season. Additionally, in an upset of No. 13 Stanford at the Alamo Bowl, TCU roared back from an 18-point deficit via the air with 341 yards passing and 28 completions against the Cardinal.
In 2015-16, Fleming was named the defensive backs coach/recruiting coordinator at Trinity International University in Deerfield, Ill. He also briefly was the graduate assistant working with the wide receivers at Arkansas Tech University from January–March 2015.
Fleming played collegiately at Arkansas State University from 2010-13. He appeared in 39 career games, picking up 46 receptions for 421 yards to go along with nine kickoff returns with an average of 33.8 yards. ASU appeared in both the 2012 and 2013 GoDaddy.com Bowls, with Fleming earning a start in the 2012 edition of the game.
After graduation, Fleming played for the San Angelo Bandits and the Arizona Rattlers of the Professional Indoor Football League in 2015.
In high school, he helped lead the Trinity Episcopal High School football team to the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class A state championship twice. Fleming finished his senior season with 1,825 yards and 29 touchdowns rushing. He threw for 700 yards and five more touchdowns, and also had 446 receiving yards. Additionally, he returned eight punts for a touchdown and posted seven interceptions.
Fleming graduated from Arkansas State in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance and completed his master’s degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences at TCU in 2017.
He and his wife, Emily, have a son, Cayson.
Postseason Appearances
2012 GoDaddy.com Bowl (Arkansas State)
2013 GoDaddy.com Bowl (Arkansas State)
2016 AutoZone Liberty Bowl (TCU)
2017 Valero Alamo Bowl (TCU)
2018 Cheez-It Bowl (TCU)
2019 FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl (Liberty)
2020 FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl (Liberty)
After a successful collegiate career, Fleming has spent the past six seasons climbing the coaching ranks with stops at the NAIA, NCAA Division II, and Football Bowl Subdivision ranks.
Fleming spent the last two years with Liberty University, working with the wide receivers in an offensive quality control role.
The 2020 season was the best in school history for the Flames, after finishing the year ranked No. 17 in the Associated Press poll and No. 18 in the Coaches Poll. Both national rankings were the highest ever in program history. The finish also marked the first time Liberty had concluded a season ranked in the final national polls of the year.
The Flames finished the season with a 10-1 record, tying the program’s record for wins in a season.
Liberty had a season of “firsts” in 2020, including the team’s first-ever national ranking, first win over an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opponent, the best start in school history (8-0 to start 2020), first-ever win over a top-25 FBS program and back-to-back bowl game wins.
Liberty defeated a pair of ACC foes in Syracuse and in-state opponent Virginia Tech. The two wins made Liberty the first non-Power 5 team to post a pair of wins over Power 5 schools in the same season since Houston in 2015.
On offense, Liberty’s renowned high-powered offense ranked 15th in total offense with 482.7 yards per game. The balanced attack saw 252.4 yards a contest pile up on the ground, while 230.4 yards a game came via the air. At 38.2 points per game, Liberty wide receivers averaged 13.1 yards per catch and tallied 25 scores.
In 2019, Fleming helped the Flames post an 8-5 record in their first full season at the FBS level. Liberty defeated Georgia Southern in the FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl to become just the third team in NCAA history to win a bowl game during its first season at the FBS level.
Wide receiver Antonio Gandy-Golden finished his career as the program’s all-time career leader in receiving yards (3,814), receptions (240) and touchdowns. Gandy-Golden was a semifinalist for the 2019 Biletnikoff Award and was named to the Phil Steele All-America team.
As a team, Liberty finished the 2019 season ranked No. 21 in the country in passing offense (288.9 yards per game) and No. 32 in total offense (439.4 yards per game).
Before arriving in Lynchburg, Va., Fleming spent time as an offensive graduate assistant working with the wide receivers at Big 12 Conference member TCU (2016-18). During his tenure with Horned Frogs, TCU compiled 23 victories, four top-25 upsets, and three bowl appearances (2016 AutoZone Liberty Bowl, 2017 Valero Alamo Bowl, 2018 Cheez-It Bowl).
The 2018 campaign saw Jalen Reagor earn All-Big 12 recognition as he set a TCU record with a touchdown catch in seven consecutive games. His 72 receptions and 1,061 receiving yards were both second for a single season in Horned Frogs’ history.
In 2017, KaVontae Turpin earned All-Big 12 recognition as he became the only player nationally to have touchdowns via receiving, rushing, passing, punt return and kickoff return in the same season. Additionally, in an upset of No. 13 Stanford at the Alamo Bowl, TCU roared back from an 18-point deficit via the air with 341 yards passing and 28 completions against the Cardinal.
In 2015-16, Fleming was named the defensive backs coach/recruiting coordinator at Trinity International University in Deerfield, Ill. He also briefly was the graduate assistant working with the wide receivers at Arkansas Tech University from January–March 2015.
Fleming played collegiately at Arkansas State University from 2010-13. He appeared in 39 career games, picking up 46 receptions for 421 yards to go along with nine kickoff returns with an average of 33.8 yards. ASU appeared in both the 2012 and 2013 GoDaddy.com Bowls, with Fleming earning a start in the 2012 edition of the game.
After graduation, Fleming played for the San Angelo Bandits and the Arizona Rattlers of the Professional Indoor Football League in 2015.
In high school, he helped lead the Trinity Episcopal High School football team to the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class A state championship twice. Fleming finished his senior season with 1,825 yards and 29 touchdowns rushing. He threw for 700 yards and five more touchdowns, and also had 446 receiving yards. Additionally, he returned eight punts for a touchdown and posted seven interceptions.
Fleming graduated from Arkansas State in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance and completed his master’s degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences at TCU in 2017.
He and his wife, Emily, have a son, Cayson.
| The RJ Fleming File | ||
| Name: | RJ Fleming | |
| High School: | Trinity Episcopal Day School - Natchez, Miss. | |
| College: | Arkansas State University - Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance - 2014 | |
| Texas Christian University - Master’s degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences - 2017 | ||
| Family: | Wife - Emily; Children - Cayson | |
| Coaching Experience | ||
| Year | School | Position |
| 2021-Present | Eastern Michigan University | Assistant Coach/Wide Receivers |
| 2019-21 | Liberty University | Offensive Quality Control |
| 2016-18 | Texas Christian University | Offensive Graduate Assistant |
| 2015-16 | Trinity International University | Defensive Backs Coach/Recruiting Coordinator |
| 2015 | Arkansas Tech University | Graduate Assistant – Wide Receivers |
| 2015 | San Angelo Bandits | Player - Professional Indoor Football League |
| 2015 | Arizona Rattlers | Player - Professional Indoor Football League |
| 2010-13 | Arkansas State University | Football student-athlete |
Postseason Appearances
2012 GoDaddy.com Bowl (Arkansas State)
2013 GoDaddy.com Bowl (Arkansas State)
2016 AutoZone Liberty Bowl (TCU)
2017 Valero Alamo Bowl (TCU)
2018 Cheez-It Bowl (TCU)
2019 FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl (Liberty)
2020 FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl (Liberty)
2025 Football Week 7 Hype vs. NIU
Friday, October 10
EMU Football Pregame Press Conference: Week 7 vs. NIU
Monday, October 06
Football Falls in Overtime at Buffalo
Saturday, October 04
2025 Football Week 6 Hype vs. Buffalo
Friday, October 03
