Saying he fell short, ND fires Weis
Saying its expectations on the field have not been met, Notre Dame fired coach Charlie Weis on Monday after a string of disappointing seasons that was capped by an agonizing four-game losing streak.
A brash offensive coordinator with the NFL champion New England Patriots when he was hired five years ago, Weis excited the Irish faithful with back-to-back appearances in BCS bowl games in his first two seasons.
Since then, one of the nation's most storied football programs has gone 16-21.
Swarbick says he recommended to the university president Sunday night that Weis be let go with six years left on his contract.
"We have great expectations for our football program, and we have not been able to meet those expectations," Notre Dame athletics director Jack Swarbrick said in a statement announcing Weis "will not be retained."
"As an alumnus, Charlie understands those goals and expectations better than most, and he's as disappointed as anyone that we have not achieved the desired results," Swarbrick said.
Following a 6-2 start, the losing streak began and as it progressed Weis' future was in doubt.
Weis finishes 35-27 in South Bend. His .565 winning percentage is worse than the .583 marks that got his two predecessors, Tyrone Willingham and Bob Davie, fired.
Among the people considered possible candidates to replace Weis are Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly, TCU coach Gary Patterson and Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh. Stoops, though, said Monday he fully intends to be at Oklahoma "hopefully for a good while."
Weis has told people in South Bend that he's already heard from roughly six NFL teams about becoming their offensive coordinator next season, sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
Notre Dame players have scheduled a mid-afternoon players meeting that will include a vote on whether they want to play in a bowl game after a 6-6 season. Swarbrick has said he will consider the players' wishes in deciding on a bowl trip.
Rob Ianello, Notre Dame's assistant head coach/offense, wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator, will assume responsibility for football operations until a new coach is hired, Swarbrick said. Ianello has spent the past five seasons on Notre Dame's staff.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Saying its expectations on the field have not been met, Notre Dame fired coach Charlie Weis on Monday after a string of disappointing seasons that was capped by an agonizing four-game losing streak.
A brash offensive coordinator with the NFL champion New England Patriots when he was hired five years ago, Weis excited the Irish faithful with back-to-back appearances in BCS bowl games in his first two seasons.
Since then, one of the nation's most storied football programs has gone 16-21.
Swarbick says he recommended to the university president Sunday night that Weis be let go with six years left on his contract.
"We have great expectations for our football program, and we have not been able to meet those expectations," Notre Dame athletics director Jack Swarbrick said in a statement announcing Weis "will not be retained."
"As an alumnus, Charlie understands those goals and expectations better than most, and he's as disappointed as anyone that we have not achieved the desired results," Swarbrick said.
Following a 6-2 start, the losing streak began and as it progressed Weis' future was in doubt.
Weis finishes 35-27 in South Bend. His .565 winning percentage is worse than the .583 marks that got his two predecessors, Tyrone Willingham and Bob Davie, fired.
Among the people considered possible candidates to replace Weis are Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly, TCU coach Gary Patterson and Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh. Stoops, though, said Monday he fully intends to be at Oklahoma "hopefully for a good while."
Weis has told people in South Bend that he's already heard from roughly six NFL teams about becoming their offensive coordinator next season, sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
Notre Dame players have scheduled a mid-afternoon players meeting that will include a vote on whether they want to play in a bowl game after a 6-6 season. Swarbrick has said he will consider the players' wishes in deciding on a bowl trip.
Rob Ianello, Notre Dame's assistant head coach/offense, wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator, will assume responsibility for football operations until a new coach is hired, Swarbrick said. Ianello has spent the past five seasons on Notre Dame's staff.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
