Golden to Notre Dame
By Jay Jenkins / Daily Progress staff writer
December 13, 2004

New England Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis will be introduced today as the head football coach at Notre Dame.

Apparently, Weis is interested in having Virginia’s defensive coordinator, Al Golden, join him in South Bend, Ind.

Sources close to Weis told the Boston Globe on Sunday that Golden is a frontrunner to become the defensive coordinator and chief recruiter at Notre Dame.

Golden was named the defensive coordinator at Virginia on Jan. 19, 2001 shortly after UVa coach Al Groh took over the reigns of the program.

The importance of hiring an assistant coach to headline recruiting at Notre Dame is only compounded by Weis’s ongoing duties with New England in the NFL. Weis will finish the regular season and playoffs with the Patriots.

Weis arrived at Notre Dame on Sunday night, just an hour after the Patriots win over the Cincinnati Bengals. While he did not answer questions, he did offer a short message to reporters while he headed off to meet Notre Dame’s players.

“Here’s what we have to do. I believe there is a proper protocol, and right now, the most important thing is that I go talk to the players,” Weis said. “So, tomorrow is our time for the press conference … Let’s do it tomorrow.”

Golden played tight end in college at Penn State and graduated in 1991. Following graduation, Golden played one professional season for the Patriots.

Weis joined the Patriots’ staff the following year, coaching the tight ends.

In 1994, Golden arrived at Virginia, working as a graduate assistant under former coach George Welsh.

After a three-year stint as an assistant coach at Boston College (1997-99), Golden coached one year at Penn State (2000).

During his stay at his alma mater, Golden coached linebackers and served as the recruiting coordinator.

Notre Dame has been without a coach since the firing Tyrone Willingham on Nov. 30.

It is reported that Weis signed a six-year deal worth $2 million a year.

Willingham to Washington; Irish's Weis Eyes U-Va. Staff
By Mark Schlabach
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, December 13, 2004; Page D01

It took less than two weeks for Notre Dame to find a replacement for football coach Tyrone Willingham, and it didn't take long for the fired coach to find a new job, either. Notre Dame will introduce New England Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis as its coach during a news conference today, and Willingham will be formally named the University of Washington's coach a few hours later.

Willingham, who was fired by Notre Dame on Nov. 30 after three seasons, arrived at Washington's campus in Seattle last night and told reporters, "I am excited about being here." He inherits a football program in worse shape than his former team -- the Huskies are coming off a school-worst 1-10 record under Keith Gilbertson, who resigned after two seasons. Gilbertson had replaced Rick Neuheisel, who was fired for gambling in an NCAA basketball pool.
Recently fired Notre Dame coach Tyrone Willingham has agreed to become the next coach of the Washington Huskies. (Michael Conroy - AP)

Notre Dame's abrupt firing of Willingham, who had a 21-15 record with the Fighting Irish, drew criticism from the Black Coaches Association. Washington becomes the only school in NCAA Division I-A with black head coaches in its two major sports -- Lorenzo Romar is in his third season as the Huskies' men's basketball coach.

Willingham, who had the shortest tenure of any Notre Dame coach in 70 years (excluding interim coaches), returns to the Pacific-10 Conference, where he was 44-36-1 at Stanford from 1995 to 2001, leading the Cardinal to the 1999 Rose Bowl.

Meantime, a source close to Weis said yesterday that he has all but assembled his Notre Dame coaching staff, and published reports indicated he could be targeting as many as three University of Virginia assistants. Cavaliers defensive coordinator Al Golden, 35, was Weis's top target for the same position at Notre Dame, the source said.

Blue & Gold Illustrated, an independent weekly that covers Notre Dame football, reported on its Web site yesterday that Virginia defensive line coach-recruiting coordinator Mike London and tight ends-special teams coach Mark D'Onofrio also were candidates to join Weis.

Golden, who also coaches the Cavaliers' inside linebackers, is in his fourth season on Coach Al Groh's staff. Golden, who has also coached at Penn State, his alma mater, and Boston College, is regarded as one of the rising assistants in college football.

"He's a great recruiter," Chicago-based recruiting analyst Tom Lemming said. "If I had to name the top 10 recruiters in the country, he'd be one of them. He rules the East Coast."

Golden and Groh couldn't be reached for comment last night. Groh has a standing policy that prohibits his assistants from talking to members of the media.

A few hours after directing the New England Patriots' offense in their 35-28 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals yesterday in Foxboro, Mass., Weis flew to Notre Dame's campus to meet his new team. Weis, who agreed to coach his alma mater on Saturday night, may not be back on campus anytime soon after today's news conference.

Weis, 48, will remain with the Patriots through the end of their season, which could last through Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville on Feb. 6. That means he can't devote all of his time to his new job until five days after college football's Feb. 2 national signing day. Lemming said Weis's first objective at Notre Dame should be hiring a proven recruiter, such as Golden, to organize the Fighting Irish's recruiting efforts.

The Fighting Irish can't afford to lose any more ground in recruiting. Under NCAA rules, prospects can make official recruiting visits to campus through Saturday. After that, a dead period, in which coaches can have no contact with potential prospects, goes in effect until Jan. 1. Another contact period runs Jan. 2-8, the same weekend as the first round of the NFL playoffs. Weis could conceivably be on Notre Dame's campus that weekend; the Patriots seem to have ensured a first-round bye with a 12-1 record.

Last year, Lemming called Willingham's class of prospects "the worst in 25 years" at Notre Dame. Willingham's last class did produce tailback Darius Walker, the Fighting Irish's second-leading rusher this season.

Weis "has to have somebody in place quickly just to have somebody calling recruits and keeping them happy," Lemming said. "He'll have a good team next year, but in a couple of years it's going to be really hard on them talent-wise. Coming from the pros, and being away from college for 15 years, I'm not sure he's aware of it."

One former Notre Dame player, Pittsburgh Steelers tailback Jerome Bettis, said he was pleased about Weis's appointment.

"I think it's a good move because he's a proven coach," Bettis said after the Steelers' win over the New York Jets in Pittsburgh. "At this stage, they need a proven guy to come in and reestablish the confidence that we are Notre Dame."

Meantime, ESPN.com reported last night that San Francisco 49ers Coach Dennis Erickson has emerged as the leading candidate to replace David Cutcliffe as Mississippi's head coach. Erickson, who's job with the 2-11 49ers is in jeopardy, is expected to meet with Rebels Athletics Director Pete Boone, possibly today.

Former Notre Dame coach Bob Davie, whom Willingham replaced in 2001, is a candidate to replace Walt Harris at Pittsburgh. Harris accepted the Stanford job on Sunday.

Three Cavs on Camp team
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Dec 13, 2004

Three University of Virginia football players have been named to the Walter Camp Football Foundation All-America team.

Tight end Heath Miller and offensive lineman Elton Brown were named to the first team, and linebacker Ahmad Brooks was chosen for the second team.

Miller leads the nation's tight ends with 70 catches for 835 yards. Brown has helped anchor an offense that produces an ACC-best 423.5 yards a game. Brooks leads the Cavaliers in tackles with 85.