Beilein, West Virginia agree on a buyout

Apr 27, 2007 - 4:40 AM MORGANTOWN, West Virginia (Ticker) -- West Virginia officials announced Thursday that they have reached an agreement with former men's basketball coach John Beilein.

With five years left on his contract at West Virginia, Beilein accepted the coaching job at Michigan earlier this month after Tommy Amaker was fired on March 17.

The sides had been negotiating a buyout since, and according to the agreement reached, Beilein will pay the school $1.5 million over the next five years.

"After very productive discussions with Bob Fitzsimmons, coach Beilein's attorney, we are pleased to have finalized the details related to coach Beilein's departure from the university," West Virginia general counsel Tom Dorer said. "Obviously from the fact we reached agreement, both parties wanted to move on and amicably resolve any remaining issues."

Beilein has posted winning records in 26 of his 29 seasons at West Virginia, Richmond and Canisius. In his five years at West Virginia, Beilein reached the round of 16 and round of eight in the NCAA Tournament.

The Mountaineers hired former alumni Bob Huggins away from Kansas State on April 6 to fill the void created by Beilein's departure.