LAWRENCE, Kan. — Charlie Weis, former Notre Dame head coach and one-time Kansas City Chief offensive coordinator, was introduced as the new head football coach at the University of Kansas on Friday, and KU officials say he is just the jolt the struggling program needs to get back on track.
Weis was previously the offensive coordinator at the University of Florida. Before that, Weis served as offense coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs for one season. Weis was also previously the head coach at Notre Dame and offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots.
“The chancellor and I didn’t feel that we needed a jump start. We believed we needed a power surge. That power surge is Coach Weis,” said KU athletic director Sheahon Zenger on Friday.
Weis says that he is a different coach than the one that roamed the sidelines – with some mixed results – for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
“I’m not the greatest coach in the world,” said Weis. “I’m just an old ball coach thats what I am. I was groomed under Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick, okay and the way I figure it they are both going to the hall of fame, so why should I try to reinvent the wheel.”
KU radio announcer David Lawrence says that he thinks the hire was a good one for the university.
There will be a great shock value. There will be more people who want to catch on and get excited about Kansas Football,” said Lawrence, who also added that the real test will be the final results on the field. “You know one thing that was brought in 2007, people know what its like to be relevant in football, to have a BCS bowl team and they want to be good in college football again. They are not happy just with the basketball.”
Weis replaces Turner Gill, who was fired on November 27.
