Now in his third season as the wide receivers coach at the University of Toledo, RJ Fleming has played a key role in guiding the Rockets’ potent passing game.
Fleming coached a pair of first-team All-MAC receivers in 2024, senior Jerjuan Newton and junior Junior Vandeross. Newton caught 72 passes for 1,048 yards and 11 touchdowns. He finished third in MAC in receiving yards, and was just the eighth Rocket ever to eclipse 1000 receiving yards in a season. He also led the MAC and tied for seventh in nation in TD receptions. After the season, Newton was invited to play in the Hula Bowl.
Vandeross led the Rockets and was third in MAC with 85 receptions to go along with 957 receiving yards. He was named Offensive MVP of GameAbove Sports Bowl vs. Pitt after setting career highs in receptions (12) and receiving yards (194) in the 48-46 six-OT victory over the Panthers.
Fleming’s first season in the Glass City was a successful one as Toledo led the league in receiving yards (3,089), receiving yards per game (220.6), yards per catch (8.2), receiving touchdowns (26) and offensive efficiency (147.8). Individually, Newton, a first-team All-MAC selection, led the MAC in receiving yards (696) and receiving touchdowns (9), with at least one receiving score in each of his first six games. Newton was also tied for third in the conference in receptions (52) and receiving yards per game (49.7). Vandeross ranked fourth in the league with 664 receiving yards and ninth with 47.4 receiving yards per game. Vandeross averaged 14.1 yards per catch, added four receiving TDs including a 68-yard score vs. Northern Illinois.
Fleming has 10 years of experience in the college coaching ranks. Prior to his arrival at Toledo, he served as an offensive analyst at Auburn. For the 2022 season, he coached the running backs at Texas State. He also has had stints at TCU (2016-18), Liberty (2019-20) and Eastern Michigan (2021).
Fleming began his collegiate coaching career in 2015 as a graduate assistant at Arkansas Tech before assuming the role of defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator at Trinity International University in Deerfield, Ill. later that same year. In 2016, he joined TCU’s coaching staff as an offensive graduate assistant working with the wide receivers. In his three years with the Horned Frogs, he was a part of a program that won 23 games and made three bowl appearances.
Fleming joined Liberty in 2019, where he served as an offensive quality control coach for two seasons. 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 Flames finished the season with a 10-1 record, tying the program’s record for wins in a season.
In 2021, Fleming coached wide receivers at Eastern Michigan, helping the Eagles to a 7-6 record and an appearance in the Lending Tree Bowl. EMU ranked third in the Mid-American Conference in passing offense (262.9) that season, with junior wide receiver Hassan Beydoun ranking second in the MAC with 97 receptions, racking up 1,015 receiving yards and earning All-MAC honors.
At Texas State in 2022, Fleming coached running backs and returners. The Bobcats had the No. 12 red-zone offense in the country and were led by Lincoln Pare’s 760 rushing yards.
Fleming has appeared in eight bowl games in his playing and coaching career, and has coached seven players who have played in the NFL.
A native of Natchez, Miss., Fleming played wide receiver at Arkansas State 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.
Fleming earned his bachelor’s degree from Arkansas State in 2014 and master’s degree from TCU in 2017. He and his wife, Emily, have a son, Cayson, and a daughter, Gianna.
RJ Flemings's Coaching Experience
2023-25 Toledo – Wide Receivers
2022 Auburn - Offensive Analyst
2022 Texas State - Running Backs
2021 Eastern Michigan - Wide Receivers
2019-20 Liberty - Offensive Quality Control
2016-18 TCU - Graduate Assistant
2015 Trinity International - Defensive Backs/Recruiting Coordinator
2015 Arkansas Tech - Graduate Assistant
