ATLANTA, Dec. 9 (UPI) -- George O'Leary, head football coach at Georgia Tech, was expected to be named Sunday as the new football coach at Notre Dame.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and ESPN reported O'Leary had agreed to take the prestigious job. He reportedly informed his players and his staff of his decision Sunday morning.
An announcement was expected shortly.
O'Leary would replace Bob Davie, who was fired on Dec.2, one day after the Fighting Irish concluded a disappointing 5-6 season with a 24-18 victory over Purdue. Davie posted a five-year record of 35-25, mediocre by Notre Dame's lofty standards.
The personable O'Leary, 55, was considered a candidate for the Notre Dame job in 1996 before the school chose Davie to succeed Lou Holtz.
O'Leary is expected to leave Georgia Tech immediately, with assistant Mac McWhorter coaching the Yellow Jackets in the Seattle Bowl against Stanford.
Oklahoma's Bob Stoops, Oregon's Mike Bellotti and NFL coaches Jon Gruden of the Oakland Raiders and Steve Mariucci of the San Francisco 49ers have been mentioned as candidates to replace Davie. But all four have said they are not interested in the high-pressure position.
Expectations remain high at Notre Dame, which has won eight national titles but none since 1988 under Holtz. Notre Dame will not be competing in a bowl for the second time in five seasons under Davie. They also missed the postseason in 1999.
O'Leary has a 52-33 record in seven seasons at Georgia Tech since taking over for Bill Lewis with three games left in the 1994 season. He guided the Yellow Jackets to three top-25 finishes and twice was named Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year. O'Leary led the Yellow Jackets to 9-3 record last season and was named Bobby Dodd National Coach of the Year.
O'Leary has five years remaining on a contract that pays him about $1.5 million a season, but this was not expected to be a problem.
O'Leary was an assistant under Bobby Ross from 1987 to 1991 and followed Ross to the NFL as defensive line coach for the San Diego Chargers. O'Leary returned to Georgia Tech as defensive coordinator in 1994 before replacing Lewis in 1995.
The Yellow Jackets began this year with Bowl Championship Series aspirations, but were just 7-5 this season.
