The Notre Dame football program paid more for former coach Charlie Weis to stay away during the 2011 season than it did to current coach Brian Kelly, who would lead the team to the national championship game one year later.
Multiple media reports say that the Irish paid Weis $2,054,744 as part of his buyout settlement after Notre Dame fired him in 2009.
Kelly, meanwhile, earned $1,088,179 as coach of the team during 2011, according to federal tax documents that the Chicago Tribune obtained from the school on Thursday. ESPN.com reported, however, that the figure reported likely did not represent his total earnings for that season.
"The current head football coach is permitted to receive compensation from external sources with prior written approval from the University," the school said in a statement that ESPN reported.
Income from outlets such as shoe companies would not have to be reported on the tax forms.
Weis, who now is head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks, has received nearly $10.8 million from Notre Dame since his ouster, according to the Tribune. He is scheduled to receive four more $2 million-plus payments, which would bring his final buyout figure to $18,966,867.
Weis compiles a 35-27 record in five years at Notre Dame after leaving his job as the New England Patriots' offensive coordinator to become a college head coach. He was 16-21 during his last three years with the Irish.
Weis' Jayhawks went 1-11 in 2012.
Kelly has gone 28-11 in three years since replacing Weis in 2010 at Notre Dame.
The Tribune listed the salaries of other Fighting Irish athletic personnel. Notre Dame men's basketball coach Mike Brey earned a total of $1,407,509 according to the documents.
Irish women's basketball coach Muffet McGraw earned a total of $1,145,441, according to the form. Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick earned 1,085,260 from the school, according to the tax document.
© 2023 Sportsworldnews.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
