Fansided

25 worst college football coaching hires in history

By Nicholas Ian Allen

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 1: Head coach Mike Price of the Washington State University Cougars manages the game from the sidelines during the 89th Rose Bowl game against University of Oklahoma Sooners at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2003 in Pasadena, California. Oklahoma defeated Washington St. 34-14. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 1: Head coach Mike Price of the Washington State University Cougars manages the game from the sidelines during the 89th Rose Bowl game against University of Oklahoma Sooners at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2003 in Pasadena, California. Oklahoma defeated Washington St. 34-14. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /
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LAWRENCE, KS – SEPTEMBER 21: Head Coach Charlie Weis of the Kansas Jayhawks coaches from the sidelines during the game against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Memorial Stadium on September 21, 2013 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
LAWRENCE, KS – SEPTEMBER 21: Head Coach Charlie Weis of the Kansas Jayhawks coaches from the sidelines during the game against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Memorial Stadium on September 21, 2013 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

11. Charlie Weis, Kansas

  • Hired: December 2011
  • Fired: September 2014
  • Record at Kansas: 6-22 (.214)
  • Career head coaching record: 41-49 (.456)

At least Weis enjoyed two good seasons at Notre Dame. After he was fired in 2009, Weis returned to the NFL for a successful stint as the offensive coordinator with the Kansas City Chiefs, helping the team improve its record from 4-12 the previous season to 10-6 and winning the AFC West. He spent one season as the OC at Florida in 2011 before moving on to his second head coaching opportunity at Kansas.

The Jayhawks tabbed Weis to replace Turner Gill, who stumbled through two disappointing seasons, which included 19 losses, from 2010-11. Though Kansas is one of the toughest jobs in America because of its basketball-crazed culture and Power 5 conference standing in state that lacks an abundance of football talent, fans and alumni expected more from the four-time Super Bowl-winning assistant.

In 2012, Weis and the Jayhawks finished 1-11, setting a new school record for losses in a season. At Big 12 Media Day the following year, Weis was famously blunt in his assessment of the Kansas program, as well as his pitch to recruits, according to Ruston Todd of The Kansas City Star:

"“Everyone wants to play,” Weis said. “There’s no one that wants to not play. I said, ‘Have you looked at that pile of crap out there? Have you taken a look at that?’ So if you don’t think you can play here, where do you think you can play? It’s a pretty simple approach. And that’s not a sales pitch. That’s practical. You’ve seen it, right? Unfortunately, so have I.”"

That didn’t go over well with most everyone, including recruits apparently. Weis posted a 5-11 record from that point, and was fired after four games in 2014.

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