Report: Notre Dame Paid Weis $6.6 Million To Leave
CHICAGO (CBS) Charlie Weis spent five seasons at the helm of the Notre Dame football program. Over that stretch, the Irish went a combined 35-27. After the 2009 season, Weis was shown the door, and paid a lot to walk away from his alma mater.
According to a report by Brian Hamilton, of the Chicago Tribune, Notre Dame made an initial "termination payment" to Weis in the form of $6,638,403, and will continue to make smaller payments to him until December 2015.
The buyout was revealed on the Form 990 Notre Dame must submit to the Internal Revenue Service, which was acquired by the Tribune.
"Termination payment of $6,638,403 was made during the reporting period to Charles J. Weis under a separation agreement that includes much smaller annual payments through December, 2015," according to the document.
Weis took over for Tyrone Willingham, who was fired during the 2004 season. While leading the Irish to a 9-3 record and a trip to the Fiesta Bowl (a 34-20 loss to Ohio State), Weis signed a 10-year contract extension with the university. The Irish would return to a BCS Bowl the following season, but were routed 41-14 by L.S.U.
Weis led Notre Dame to 19 wins in his first two seasons, but his final three seasons would amount to only 16 wins and a trip to the Hawaii Bowl.
Weis was fired after going 6-6 in 2009, and Notre Dame hired Brian Kelly to take over the program.
In 2010, Kelly and the Irish went 8-5 and beat Miami (Fla.) in the Sun Bowl.
