Michigan Wolverines hire West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez

The Michigan Wolverines announced that they have filled the football coaching job with West Virginia's Rich Rodriguez.

Michigan Wolverines hire West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez Finally the Michigan Wolverines football has a coach. Michigan athletic department spokesman Bruce Madej announced on Sunday that the new Wolverines head coach will be Rich Rodriguez from the West Virginia Mountaineers. Rodriguez will replace Lloyd Carr as the football coach, who resigned on November, after 13 seasons with the Ann Arbor team. The Michigan Wolverines will officially introduce Rich Rodriguez during a press conference scheduled on Monday. Employing Rodriguez as the football coach ended almost month-long search for Carr's replacement, a job denied by both LSU coach Les Miles and Rutgers Greg Schiano.

Rich "Rod" Rodriguez has a 60-26 record with the West Virginia Mountaineers, coaching the team since 2001. He was hired by the Mountaineers in 2000 to replace the retiring legend Don Nehlen. Prior to coaching West Virginia football, Rodriguez spent six season with Glenville State (1990-96). Under Rich Rodriguez West Virginia reached six college bowls, winning the last two (Sugar Bowl and Gator Bowl) and is preparing the team for the Fiesta Bowl game against Oklahoma on January 2nd (Oklahoma is -7 points favorite against the spread at Bodog Sports).

Rodriguez salary at Michigan has not been announced yet, but his contract with West Virginia has a $4 million buyout clause if he leaves the Mountaineers before September of 2008. Michigan athletic director Bill Martin has said in the past that a buyout clause will not prevent hiring a new coach, but he would negotiate the numbers. Meanwhile, Lloyd Carr will prepare the Wolverines for the Capital One Bowl on January first against the Florida Gators. Florida is -10.5 points favorite against the spread for the Capital One Bowl against the Michigan Wolverines at Bodog.

Published on 12/16/2007