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
West Virginia Suing Departed Football Coach
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)

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. (More NCAA football stories.)

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