LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Charlie Weis' first try at being a college head coach ended in disaster, the longtime NFL assistant unable to live up to the lofty expectations at Notre Dame.

He'll get another chance at a program with much more modest aspirations.

Weis accepted an offer to coach Kansas on Thursday, and will set about rebuilding a program that won the Orange Bowl just a few years ago but floundered under Turner Gill.

Weis will be introduced during a news conference Friday.

The 55-year-old Weis helped the New England Patriots win three Super Bowls on the staff of Bill Belichick, and also spent time with the New York Jets and New York Giants.

He's wrapping up his first season as offensive coordinator at Florida after spending one season directing the Kansas City Chiefs' offense. But his most extensive college experience came with the Fighting Irish, where he went 35-27 in five seasons.

"There aren't many opportunities you get to be a head coach," Gators coach Will Muschamp said. "I know Charlie, the last one didn't end the way he wanted it to."

Kansas athletic director Sheahon Zenger is hopeful that Weis' high profile will energize a fan base that had grown apathetic under Gill, who was fired after going 5-19 in just two seasons.

School officials would not disclose the terms of Weis' contract.

Gill signed a five-year deal that guaranteed him $10 million, which means the school is on the hook for roughly $6 million. Weis was making more than $800,000 a year with the Gators.

It was little secret that Weis wasn't fond of Kansas City during his time with the Chiefs, and he moved on to the Gators in part so that he could be near his son, who is also on the football staff. He bought a horse farm in nearby Ocala, and has several health issues that could hamper recruiting.

Still, the opportunity to rebuild the Jayhawks appears to be enough of a challenge.

"In the recent days, he was contacted about the job and we talked about it and he told me it was an opportunity he wanted to take," Muschamp said. "Any time, and our profession is no different than the business world, when you're able to take a step up, I support it.