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West Virginia Suing Departed Football Coach

School seeks to secure $4M from Rodriguez, now at Michigan

By Katherine Thompson,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 28, 2007 5:47 PM CST
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(Newser) – In its effort to be sure its former football coach pays the $4 million buyout stipulated by his contract, West Virginia University is suing Rich Rodriguez, the Charleston Gazette reports. The lawsuit asks a judge to rule if the school did anything to breach the contract—it contends it didn't—or if the breach was caused by Rodriguez's departure for the University of Michigan.

WVU denies allegations it breached its part of the contract, which included raising the salary of assistant coaches and refurbishing an athletic building. After seven successful seasons at his alma mater, Rodriguez left the Mountaineers following a loss to Pitt that cost WVU a spot in the Bowl Championship Series championship game; the team will play in Wednesday's Fiesta Bowl without him.

Former West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez appears on the sidelines against Rutgers during college football action at Rutgers Stadium in Piscataway, N.J., Saturday, Oct. 27, 2007. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)
Former West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez appears on the sidelines against Rutgers during college football action at Rutgers Stadium in Piscataway, N.J., Saturday, Oct. 27, 2007. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)   (Associated Press)
Retiring Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr, left, shakes hands with Rich Rodriguez, former head football coach at West Virginia, as the Rodriguez family arrive at the University of Michigan for a news conference to announce Rodriguez as the incoming football coach, Monday, Dec. 17, 2007, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP...
Retiring Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr, left, shakes hands with Rich Rodriguez, former head football coach at West Virginia, as the Rodriguez family arrive at the University of Michigan for a news conference...   (Associated Press)
Rich Rodriguez, former head football coach at West Virginia, is introduced as the new Michigan football coach, Monday, Dec. 17, 2007, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Tony Ding)
Rich Rodriguez, former head football coach at West Virginia, is introduced as the new Michigan football coach, Monday, Dec. 17, 2007, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Tony Ding)   (Associated Press)
Then West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez walks the sideline late in the second half during a 13-9 loss to Pittsburgh in a college football game, Saturday, Dec. 1, 2007 in Morgantown, W.Va. T (AP Photo/Jeff Gentner)
Then West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez walks the sideline late in the second half during a 13-9 loss to Pittsburgh in a college football game, Saturday, Dec. 1, 2007 in Morgantown, W.Va. T (AP Photo/Jeff...   (Associated Press)
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Sports • US

 
NCAA football • West Virginia Mountaineers • lawsuit • West Virginia University • University of Michigan • contract • Rich Rodriguez

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