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Charlie Weis

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Charlie Weis

Charles Joseph (Charlie) Weis (born March 30, 1956 in Middlesex, New Jersey) is the head coach of the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team.

Early career

After graduating from Middlesex (N.J.) High School, Weis decided to attend the University of Notre Dame. This is where he earned his bachelor's degree in speech and drama in 1978. While coaching football at South Carolina, he earned his master's degree in education in 1989.

Weis began his coaching career in 1979 at Boonton High School in New Jersey, then spent the next five seasons at Morristown (N.J.) High School as a football assistant.[1] In 1985, he was hired by head coach Joe Morrison at the University of South Carolina, where he served four seasons on the Gamecock staff before returning to New Jersey as the head coach at Franklin Township High in 1989. That year, he directed Franklin Township to the New Jersey state championship while also assisting in the New York Giants' pro personnel department.

Assistant to Bill Parcells

In 1990, he launched his professional coaching career with the Giants when he was named defensive assistant and assistant special teams coach under Giants head coach Bill Parcells. The Giants went on to win the Super Bowl that season, edging the Buffalo Bills by a score of 20-19. After Ray Handley took over as head coach in 1991, Weis stayed on as the running backs coach for two seasons, developing RB Rodney Hampton into a 1,000 yard rusher and Pro Bowl player.

Weis then began a four-year stint with the New England Patriots, where he once again served under Parcells. For the first two years, Weis served as tight ends coach (1993-94), developing Ben Coates into a Pro Bowl selection in 1994. The next year Weis served as running backs coach (1995), where he lobbied to draft RB Curtis Martin and promptly developed the rookie sensation, coaching Martin to the 1995 Pro Bowl and a 1,400 yard rushing season. Martin was also named Rookie of the Year. In 1996, Weis served as receivers coach, where he continued his trend of successful development of players, developing WR Terry Glenn into a 1,100 yard receiver as a rookie.

When Parcells left New England following the 1996 season, Weis once again followed his mentor to the New York Jets. In New York, Weis served his first year as wide receivers coach ('97), where he developed Keyshawn Johnson. Under Weis' coaching, Johnson became a back-to-back Pro-Bowler in 1998 and 1999. In 1997, Weis became the offensive coordinator of the Jets, in addition to being the primary receivers coach. In his second year as Offensive coordinator, the New York Jets finished fourth in the National Football League in offense. Weis served as the team's offensive coordinator from 1997 to 1999.

Patriots offensive coordinator

Weis returned to New England Patriots following Parcells' announced retirement after the 1999 season. When Weis returned to New England he was announced the team's offensive coordinator under head coach Bill Belichick, this was a position Weis held from 2000 through 2004. While with the Patriots, he helped install the Erhardt - Perkins offensive system used by the Patriots today.

During this stint, the Patriots won three Super Bowls (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX). As offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Weis has been credited for helping develop Tom Brady. Tom Brady was elected to the 2001 Pro Bowl, and named Super Bowl MVP of Super Bowl's XXXVI and XXXVIII.

Notre Dame head coach

Main article: 2005 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team
Main article: 2006 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team
Main article: 2007 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

After a 6-5 season, on November 30 2004, Notre Dame released its head football coach, Tyrone Willingham.[2] After preliminary overtures to Utah head coach Urban Meyer were rejected due to Meyer accepting the Florida head coaching position,[3] Notre Dame narrowed their list down to Weis and Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator and former Notre Dame star quarterback Tom Clements.[citation needed] The University ultimately decided to hire Weis, and on December 12 2004, Weis was named the 28th head football coach in Notre Dame history, agreeing to a six-year contract worth a reported $2 million per year. Weis is the first Notre Dame graduate to hold the football head coaching position at his alma mater since Hugh Devore (a 1934 graduate) served as interim coach in 1945 and 1963 and the first to serve as the Irish football coach on a full-fledged basis since Joe Kuharich (a 1938 Notre Dame graduate who coached at Notre Dame from 1959 through 1962).[4] He is atypical among NCAA Division I head football coaches, as he did not play football at the college level. Weis is one of only four such coaches, with Mark Mangino at Kansas, Paul Johnson at Navy, and Mike Leach at Texas Tech.[citation needed]

In his first season as the head coach of the Fighting Irish, the team's play, particularly that of junior quarterback Brady Quinn and junior wide receiver Jeff Samardzija, improved greatly. Samardzija, previously a little-used wide receiver, became Quinn's favorite target and a frequent game-breaker, and set school records for most touchdown receptions in a season (15), most receiving yardage in a season (1249), and most consecutive games with a touchdown reception (8),[5] after having no touchdown receptions in his previous two years at Notre Dame.[6] With a record of 9-2, his team finished the regular season ranked sixth in the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) standings, granting them a berth in the 2006 Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Arizona, on January 2 2006 which they lost to the Ohio State Buckeyes by a score of 34-20.[7] The Irish finished ninth in the final AP Poll and eleventh in the Coaches Poll.[8][9] His team's success on the field helped make Weis winner of the 2005 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award, selected by the Football Writers Association of America.[10]

On October 29 2005, only halfway through the first year of a six-year contract, Weis signed a contract extension with Notre Dame. The new 10-year deal, worth a reported $30 million to $40 million, will keep Weis at Notre Dame through 2015.[11] The extension was controversial because Willingham, who had a similar record his first year, was not offered the same extension.[12][13] After signing the contract extension, Weis commented that he would only leave Notre Dame upon being fired or death.[citation needed] Weis has repeatedly stated that he intends to stay at Notre Dame until his son, Charlie Jr., graduates from Notre Dame, which his 10 year contract will allow.[14]

During the 2006 season, Weis led the Fighting Irish to a 10-2 regular season record, and a second straight BCS berth, this time losing 41-14 in the Sugar Bowl to the Louisiana State Tigers. This loss was the second straight bowl loss under Weis and the ninth straight bowl loss for the Irish.[15] The Irish finished #17 in the final AP poll, #19 in the final Coaches Poll.[16][17] While this season could be considered a disappointment based on Notre Dame's #2 pre-season ranking, Weis led the Irish to its second straight season of nine wins or more, something not achieved since the 1992 and 1993 seasons under Coach Lou Holtz.[citation needed] Also for the 2nd straight year in a row Weis put together a top 10 recruiting class,[18] including national player of the year Jimmy Clausen[19].

In 2007 Notre Dame went 3-9 with their only wins against UCLA, Duke,and Stanford, though it should be noted that both UCLA and Stanford played significant portions of the game without their starting quaterbacks.[20][21] Their loss to Navy on November 3 snapped their NCAA record 43-game win streak over the Midshipmen.[22] Through 11 games the team ranked near the bottom of Division 1-FBS in rushing yards per game and total yards per game.[23][24] Along with being third from last in scoring per game,[25] the team has been shut out twice.[26][27] Weis attributed the teams downfall to his own mistakes, which include failing to use full speed practices and not properly developing his players.[28] Despite the poor season, Weis has so far managed to recruit the top recruiting class in the country.[29]

Personal

Charlie and wife Maura have two children, Charles Joseph and Hannah Margaret. In 2003, Weis and his wife Maura established the Hannah & Friends Foundation, dedicated to children affected by developmental disorders and named after his daughter, who is autistic. In the spring of 2004, the first annual Hannah & Friends Celebrity Golf Classic was held to benefit the foundation.

He was a roommate of Terry Eurick while at Notre Dame.[citation needed] Terry was a player on the Notre Dame football team.

Charlie, born in Trenton, New Jersey, has one older sister and three younger brothers, one of whom attended West Point. He is of German descent.[citation needed]

Health issues

Weis said his father died at age 56 after a second heart attack and he feared he would suffer a similar fate if he didn't take drastic action to reduce his weight.[citation needed]

In 2002, Weis underwent gastric bypass surgery, after which he lost [undue weight? – discuss] from his top weight of [undue weight? – discuss].[30] [31] Weis later sued his doctors seeking unspecified damages due to complications related to the procedure, but lost the suit on July 24, 2007 when the jury returned a verdict in favor of his doctors. [32]

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Independent) (2005–present)
2005 Notre Dame 9–3 L Fiesta Bowl† 11 9
2006 Notre Dame 10–3 L Sugar Bowl† 19 17
2007 Notre Dame 3–9 — —
Notre Dame: 22–15
Total: 22–15
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

  1. ^ Charlie Weis profile, CSTV.
  2. ^ "Statement From Director Of Athletics Kevin White". UND.cstv.com. November 30, 2004. Retrieved 2007-11-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ "Meyer signs seven-year, $14 million deal with Florida". CBS Sportline. December 3, 2004. Retrieved 2007-11-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ "Weis to be introduced as Irish coach Monday". ESPN.com. 2004-12-13. Retrieved 2007-11-13.
  5. ^ "Football's Record-Setting 2005 Season". UND.com. 2006-1-10. Retrieved 2007-11-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ Moran, Malcolm (2005-10-15). "Samardzija sparks Irish resurgence". USA Today. Retrieved 2007-11-13.
  7. ^ "Smith, Ginn lift speedy Ohio State to another Fiesta title". ESPN.com. 2006-1-2. Retrieved 2007-11-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ "2005 NCAA Football Rankings - Final (Dec. 12) (Coaches Poll)". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2007-11-13.
  9. ^ "2005 NCAA Football Rankings - Final (Dec. 12) (AP Poll)". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2007-11-13.
  10. ^ "Charlie Weis Earns FWAA's Eddie Robinson Coach Of The Year Award". UND.com. 2006-1-1. Retrieved 2007-11-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ "Notre Dame extends Weis through 2015". ESPN.com. 2005-10-30. Retrieved 2007-11-13.
  12. ^ "Irish extension". USA Today. 2005-11-04. Retrieved 2007-11-13.
  13. ^ Taylor, Phil (2005-11-02). "His biggest victory". SI.com. Retrieved 2007-11-13.
  14. ^ "Job Security". ESPN.com. 2007-1-3. Retrieved 2007-11-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ "Irish Fall In Sugar Bowl". UND.com. 2007-01-04. Retrieved 2007-11-13.
  16. ^ "2006 NCAA Football Rankings - Final (Dec. 17) (Coaches Poll)". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2007-11-13.
  17. ^ "2006 NCAA Football Rankings - Final (Dec. 17) (AP Poll)". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2007-11-13.
  18. ^ "2007 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved 2007-11-13.
  19. ^ Friend, Tom (2006-04-21). "Third in prized Clausen clan to verbally commit to Irish". ESPN. Retrieved 2007-11-13.
  20. ^ "Notre Dame takes advantage of UCLA walk-on QB to win first game". ESPN.com. 2007-10-06. Retrieved 2007-11-13.
  21. ^ "Irish avoid first winless season at home in 74 years". ESPN.com. 2007-11-17. Retrieved 2007-11-19.
  22. ^ "Notre Dame's NCAA-record 43-game win streak over Navy ends". ESPN.com. 2007-11-03. Retrieved 2007-11-13.
  23. ^ "NCAA Division I-A Team Leaders: 2007 (Rushing Offense)". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2007-11-13.
  24. ^ "NCAA Division I-A Team Leaders: 2007 (Total Yards)". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2007-11-13.
  25. ^ "NCAA Division I-A Team Leaders: 2007 (Scoring)". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2007-11-13.
  26. ^ "Michigan has Hart, much more in rout of winless Notre Dame". ESPN.com. 2007-09-15. Retrieved 2007-11-13.
  27. ^ "Sanchez's four touchdowns lead Trojans' rout of Irish". ESPN.com. 2007-10-20. Retrieved 2007-11-13.
  28. ^ "Charlie Weis Press Conference Transcript (Oct. 30)". UND.com. 2007-10-30. Retrieved 2007-11-13.
  29. ^ "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved 2007-11-13.
  30. ^ http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/9994379
  31. ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2930885
  32. ^ http://sportspickle.com/features/volume4/2005-1102-weis.html
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