Smartest College Football Coach Firings of the Past 10 Years

10 of 11

Sep 20, 2014; Lawrence, KS, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Charlie Weis before the game against the Central Michigan Chippewas at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

Charlie Weis – Notre Dame Fighting Irish, 2009

Record With School: 35-27
Replaced by: Brian Kelly

The Fighting Irish had been fighting to regain respectability in football again, and what better way than to pluck a successful coordinator from the NFL champion New England Patriots.

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In 2005, Charlie Weis signed a six-year contract withe Notre Dame worth $2 million per year. He was the first Notre Dame graduate to hold the football head coaching position since Hugh Devore in 1963. The Irish are all about tradition, and they wanted Weis to bring back the winning one.

As with a number of the coaches on this list, things started off in good shape, with the Fighting Irish going 9-3 on the season, including an appearance in the BCS Fiesta Bowl. The second year of Weis’ tenure was equally successful (and disappointing) as the Irish finished 10-3, but lost in the BCS Sugar Bowl.

The next three seasons saw a tremendous drop-off in wins and in recruits. This may have been another case of a coach being handed some great players who he ran through their paces, but couldn’t bring in new talent to sustain wins.

Next: Mike Shula

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