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Many critics don't think Charlie Weis is the man for the Notre Dame job, but the Irish Athletic Director thinks otherwise.

updated 3:29 p.m. ET Nov. 12, 2008

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick says he looks forward to Charlie Weis being the head football coach for the Fighting Irish for a long time.

Swarbrick says he’s aware that some people are unhappy with the job Weis is doing with the Irish, who have lost three of four games to fall to 5-4. But he says he believes the program is headed in the right direction under Weis.

Swarbrick says the Irish are significantly better than last year’s 3-9 team, and he expects next year’s team to be even better.

Weis is in his fourth season at Notre Dame, and third year of a 10-year contract.

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