SOUTH BEND, Indiana -- It took Notre Dame football coach
Charlie Weis only seven games to earn a new contract.
Notre Dame has signed Weis to a new 10-year deal, the school
announced Saturday.
The deal will make him the highest paid coach in college football, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen. Sources pegged the extension between $30 and $40 million. One source said it was closer to the high end of that range.
Weis originally had signed a six-year contract through the 2010
season when he was hired last December. This new deal takes
effect next season and runs through 2015.
"Since the first day I arrived at Notre Dame as head football
coach, one of my primary goals was to be able to see this job
through to the time my son, Charlie, would graduate from the
University of Notre Dame and to stay in this position until I
retire," Weis said. "By restructuring this contract, adding an
additional five years, this allows me to accomplish that goal."
Weis has led the Fighting Irish, who began the season unranked,
to a 5-2 mark and the No. 9 ranking. Notre Dame also nearly
upset top-ranked Southern California three weeks ago before
coming up just short, 34-31.
"In a very short period of time, Charlie has clearly and
impressively demonstrated the ability to take the Notre Dame
program where we all want it to go," Notre Dame athletic
director Kevin White said.
"We're excited that Charlie wanted to extend his commitment to
Notre Dame, combined with the University's interest in
furthering its relationship with him. All of us are
enthusiastic about what the future holds for Notre Dame football
with Charlie Weis as our head coach. We're confident that
we've got the best coach in America ensconced at his alma mater
for the remainder of his career."
Information from SportsTicker was used in this report.