Eric Hansen

Charlie Weis’ week in coaching no-man’s land will end suddenly and awkwardly Wednesday when the University of Notre Dame holds a press conference to announce the embattled fourth-year Irish head football coach will return for the 2009 season.

An athletic department source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed Tuesday night that Weis has been informed he will return for his fifth season after sitting in limbo since Saturday night’s 38-3 beatdown from No. 5 USC in Los Angeles.

The one-sided setback gave Weis four losses in Notre Dame's last five games, a school-record-worst 9-15 mark over a two-year stretch and a 28-21 overall record in four seasons.

WNDU-TV, the NBC affiliate in South Bend, The South Bend Tribune and several other media outlets, citing anonymous sources,are also reporting that Weis will return for a fifth season.

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