Analyst Says Bob Stoops Will Coach Notre Dame

A writer from the Notre Dame Scout page is reporting that Bob Stoops and the Notre Dame athletic department have agreed verbally to the principles of a contract , and that if Notre Dame can meet his financial requirements, Stoops will take over as head coach of the Fighting Irish as early as this week.

The writer, whose original article is behind a Scout paywall , cited confirmation from five different sources, both neutral and affiliated with Notre Dame and/or Stoops, all of which have confirmed the existence of a verbal contract.

The only matter delaying the decision is financial, the source said.

Notre Dame must pay the remaining five years of salary to outgoing coach Charlie Weis, who was fired earlier today according to the New York Daily News.

Stoops is the highest paid coach in the Big 12, making over $4 million in salary, bonuses, and incentives. Oklahoma extended his contract through 2015 earlier this year.

Stoops denied interviewing for the position in a text message to Tulsa World columnist Dave Stitler, but the source claimed that Stoops and the ND administration have met and negotiated a contract through a third party, therefore precluding the need for an interview.

This would seem to coincide with Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick's assertion that there are no current or ongoing interviews for the position; Stoops' record, for all intents and purposes, speaks for itself.

There was indication that Stoops would take over for Notre Dame in time for bowl preparation. The decision to play in the postseason was left up to the players, who will meet and vote on the fate of the team today, according to Swarbrick.

Notre Dame went 6-6 on the year, including consecutive losses to Pitt, UConn, and Stanford to close the season.