SOUTH BEND, IND. ? Notre Dame was close to hiring New England Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis as its new coach, a university source said Saturday night, but the deal was not complete and still could fall apart.

The Fighting Irish have been searching for nearly two weeks for a replacement for Tyrone Willingham, who was fired Nov. 30 after posting a 21-15 record in three years.

The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Associated Press procedural issues that could be deal-breakers remained in the talks with Weis.

ESPN, quoting sources close to the university, reported Saturday night that Weis had agreed to a six-year contract that will pay him about $2 million a year. The network said Weis would fly to South Bend, Ind., to meet with Notre Dame players after the Patriots’ game today against Cincinnati, and that a news conference at Notre Dame is set for Monday.

Weis could not be reached at his Massachusetts home Saturday night. A Patriots spokesman said the team had no comment on the reports.

Weis would be the first Notre Dame alumnus to coach the Irish since Hugh Devore was interim coach in 1963. Though he never played for the Fighting Irish, Weis graduated from the school in 1978 with a degree in communications and education.

Earlier Saturday, the Chicago Tribune reported on its Web site that Notre Dame had eliminated other candidates and was negotiating with Weis.

“We have not hired anybody yet, and we don’t have a press conference scheduled,” Notre Dame associate athletic director John Heisler said Saturday night. “Nothing is official. The process is ongoing. … No deal is done from our standpoint.”