[July 11, 2008]

West Virginia U.: Ex-WVU coach Rodriguez, U. Michigan agree to buyout

(U-Wire Via Acquire Media NewsEdge)
UWIRE-//-West Virginia U.: Ex-WVU coach Rodriguez, U. Michigan agree to
buyout (C) 2008 The Daily Athenaeum via UWIRE

By Tony Dobies, The Daily Athenaeum (West Virginia U.)

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. --

West Virginia University and Rich Rodriguez have reached a tentative
agreement.

The entire $4 million buyout agreement that was structured in his final
signed contract at WVU before leaving to take over as head coach of the
University of Michigan will be paid in full to WVU.

Rodriguez is expected to pay $1.5 million over a span of three years. A
payment of $2.5 million, expected to be made by the Michigan athletic
department from its reserved funds, is due by the end of July.

The Michigan athletic department will also pay all of Rodriguez s
attorney fees. However, Rodriguez and Michigan will not have to pay WVU
s attorney s fees or court costs.

A settlement was reached late Tuesday night, after continuing talks
between the two sides along with a mediator.

Wednesday afternoon, the WVU Board of Governors approved the settlement
in an emergency meeting by conference call.

As a board, we are pleased that (WVU) President (Mike) Garrison and his
executive and legal teams did the right and fair thing by pursuing this
matter, said new BOG chairwoman Carolyn Long in a press release. It
became clear through documentation and other evidence that Mr.
Rodriguez, his agent, financial adviser and University of Michigan
officials were also keenly aware of all contract details.

I am pleased that they have agreed to abide by the signed contract.

Garrison said in his deposition that he had told Rodriguez the contract
that was signed in August 2007 was fair.

We felt from the beginning that we had a solid and valid contract that
all parties understood and agreed to, including the liquidated damages
clause, Garrison said. From the outset of this matter, we believed it
was very important to protect the financial interests of our great
University.

The settlement was reached on the night that Rodriguez was supposed to
submit unredacted term sheets he signed with Michigan that had
previously been blacked out.

It's a case that should have settled a long time ago and could have
settled a long time ago. It's in the best interest of everyone to
resolve it," WVU attorney Tom Flaherty told The Associated Press.

WVU lawyers felt the pressure to settle was in part due to a lawsuit
filed by WVU in a Michigan court, asking to allow the deposition of
both Michigan athletic director Bill Martin and President Mary Sue
Coleman.

To help Rich focus on the challenges ahead, we have worked with him to
resolve the dispute between him and West Virginia University over the
terms of his buyout, Martin said in a statement. Although he continues
to disagree with the validity of the terms, Rich and the rest of us at
Michigan felt that it would be best to get this distracting issue
behind us.

WVU was also still in the process of working out dates to depose
Rodriguez s wife Rita, financial advisor Mike Wilcox and former video
coordinator Dusty Rutledge.

WVU athletic director Ed Pastilong, who was also deposed early on, said
in a statement, It's good that this matter is behind us. Now it is
important for the WVU football program to focus on the future. Bill
Stewart, his new staff, and the student-athletes are off to a great
start. We are looking forward to the new season.

Rodriguez spent seven seasons at WVU before leaving in December 2007
for Michigan. He was 60-26 at West Virginia prior to leaving.

Bill Stewart, who was named interim head coach in the Mountaineers
48-28 Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma, was chosen to replace Rodriguez.

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