Huskies Turn to Willingham

Tyrone Willingham agreed to become Washington’s third coach in four seasons Sunday, two weeks after being fired by Notre Dame.

Washington athletic department spokesman Jim Daves announced the hiring in a statement.

Willingham was 21-15 in three seasons at Notre Dame; after an 8-0 start in 2002, the Irish were 13-15. Willingham is familiar with the Pacific 10 Conference, going 44-36-1 with Stanford from 1995 to 2001 and reaching the 1999 Rose Bowl.

He will be introduced by the Huskies at a news conference today.

The Huskies are coming off a school-worst 1-10 season, and Keith Gilbertson stepped down after two years as coach. He replaced Rick Neuheisel, who was fired for gambling on NCAA basketball.

Washington Athletic Director Todd Turner and the university president met last week with Boston College Coach Tom O’Brien. He and Willingham were the only known candidates interviewed for the position, but O’Brien withdrew Friday.

The hiring makes Washington the only Division I-A school with black head coaches in the two major sports. Men’s basketball Coach Lorenzo Romar is in his third season leading the Huskies.

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New England Patriot offensive coordinator Charlie Weis signed a six-year contract to coach Notre Dame, the school said.

Weis, 48, returns to the school he graduated from in 1978.

He arrived at Notre Dame on Sunday night with Athletic Director Kevin White hours after the Patriots beat the Cincinnati Bengals. He spent 30 minutes at Joyce Athletic Center, where the sports administration offices are, before going to meet with the Irish players.

Weis wouldn’t answer any questions but said, “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.”

A news conference to announce his hiring was scheduled for this morning, Weis said.

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New Utah Coach Kyle Whittingham hired two assistants, naming Andy Ludwig offensive coordinator and former Ute Derrick Odum secondary coach.... Sam Houston State Coach Ron Randleman announced his retirement, a day after the Bearkats lost in the semifinals of the Division I-AA playoffs.