Irish coordinator Mike Sanford returning to Western Kentucky

Western Kentucky has hired Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Sanford as its next head coach.

Sanford will be introduced at 4 p.m. ET Wednesday at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium. He replaces Jeff Brohm, who left last week to accept the head-coaching job at Purdue after guiding Western Kentucky to a 30-10 record and consecutive Conference USA championships in three seasons.

Sanford, who spent the past two seasons at Notre Dame, served as Western Kentucky's quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator in 2010.

Sanford, 34, becomes the youngest coach in the FBS. A source told ESPN that he received a four-year contract that will play him an average of $800,000 annually and includes many bonus possibilities for reaching milestones.

Sanford, whose father, Mike, is Indiana State's coach, played quarterback at Boise State and later served as Boise State's offensive coordinator before joining the Notre Dame staff. His departure means Notre Dame will be replacing coordinators on both sides of the ball. The Irish fireddefensive coordinator Brian VanGorder after a 1-3 start to the season.