Posted on Dec. 16
- AP photo
- West Virginia football coach Rich Rodriguez speaks to the media during a morning press conference at Milan Puskar Stadium on Saturday morning, in Morganton, W.Va. Rodriguez refused to address reports that he was a candidate for the Michigan coaching job.
West Virginia’s Rich Rodriguez is Michigan’s next head football coach. The official announcement will come at a 9 a.m. press conference Monday morning.
Rodriguez told his players in a brief meeting this afternoon he was leaving to coach the Wolverines.
His hiring marks the end of a nearly one-month long process that began when Lloyd Carr announced his retirement Nov. 19. It also confirms the rumors that started last week when Rodriguez reportedly met Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman and Athletic Director Bill Martin in Ohio and ends those that Louisiana State coach Les Miles was still a candidate.
Known for the development of the spread offense, Rodriguez comes to Michigan after amassing a 60-26 record in six years in Morgantown. He has led the Mountaineers to six straight bowl games including the upcoming Fiesta Bowl, their second BCS bowl in three years.
Following basketball coach John Beilein, Rodriguez becomes the second Moutaineer coach to leave for Ann Arbor in 2007.
Continue checking the Daily’s sports blog, “The Game,” for up-to-the-minute updates and analysis on this developing situation.