Since the legendary Lou Holtz retired, the Fighting Irish have had three full-time head coaches. Bob Davie coached for five seasons and had a 58 percent winning percentage. Ty Willingham lasted only three seasons and posted an identical 58 percent mark. Charlie Weis is in his fifth season as the Notre Dame head coach, and his current winning percentage is … you guessed it, 58 percent.
First of all, it is embarrassing that a football program with the mystique, money and resources of Notre Dame has a winning percentage of less than 60 over the past 12 years. When Weis signed his current contract, it was the largest contract ever given to a college football coach. For that kind of money, you would hope the results would be at least somewhat better than those of Davie and Willingham.
Weis is a very good offensive coordinator. If he was asked to leave South Bend, there would be about 20 NFL offenses that would immediately come calling. But not every good coordinator can be a good head coach. There are countless examples of terrific coordinators becoming bad head coaches.
Other than his paycheck, there is little evidence that Weis is a quality head coach. Remember that college football is not like the NFL. Schools like Notre Dame have tremendous advantages when it comes to football. As a head coach, anyone should be able to lead the Irish to a 60 percent winning percentage.
Weis is signed through 2015. With some much money tied up in him, will Notre Dame ever fire him?
