Reports: Weis will return for his fifth year at ND

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Charlie Weis will return for a fifth season at Notre Dame despite another disappointing year, several media outlets reported Tuesday night.

WNDU-TV in South Bend, The South Bend Tribune and several other media outlets, citing anonymous sources, reported Weis will be back next year.

Athletic director Jack Swarbrick did not respond to repeated phone messages and e-mails Tuesday night. University spokesman John Heisler declined to address the reports.

Swarbrick had said after the Irish lost 38-3 to USC on Saturday that he would evaluate Weis' performance and planned to meet with the coach Dec. 8.

Weis has seven years left on a 10-year contract signed midway through his first season, but some Irish fans upset by some embarrassing losses had called for his firing. The Irish lost to Navy last season and this season lost to Syracuse when the Orange were 2-8, marking the first loss ever by Notre Dame to an eight-loss team.

Weis has led the team to back-to-back disappointing seasons of 3-9 and 6-6, with the 15 losses the most ever by the Irish in a two-year span.