Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis was fired Monday afternoon following a hugely underwhelming season during which the Fighting Irish went 6-6 for the second successive season.

"We have great expectations for our football program, and we have not been able to meet those expectations,"  said athletic director Jack Swarbrick Monday. "As an alumnus, Charlie understands those goals and expectations better than most, and he's as disappointed as anyone that we have not achieved the desired results."

By no means a shock, Monday's announcement means that Notre Dame is wasting no time in getting rid of Weis and starting the process of finding a successor to turn around the fortunes of the Fighting Irish.

Swarbick told Notre Dame President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C. on Sunday night that he felt Weis had taken the team as far as he could.

"We have established an evaluation process for all of our athletic programs that, in the end, results in a recommendation from Jack to me," said Father Jenkins. "I accepted Jack's decision and look forward to working with him on selecting a new head football coach who is the very best choice possible for the University and especially for our student-athletes.

"I am most appreciative to Coach Weis for his service to Notre Dame and our community. He and his family have my prayers and best wishes."

In his five years at the helm in South Bend , Weis had a record of 35-27, and guided the Irish to successive Bowl Championship Series Games in his first two years (both of which Notre Dame Lost - going down in the 2006 Fiesta Bowl and the 2007 Sugar Bowl).

However, a dismal 2009 season where a bright start turned into a nightmare finish heralded the end of Weis' reign and Swarbrick will now begin the process of finding a new head coach.

Assistant coach Rob Ianello will handle all football affairs while Swarbrick finds the right candidate.