Beilein leaving West Virginia for Michigan

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

04/03/2007 -

It was planned to be a meeting where John Beilein told his West Virginia players how to prepare for offseason workouts. Instead, he told them goodbye.

Beilein, who took the Mountaineers from mediocrity to two NCAA tournaments and an NIT championship, is moving on to Michigan.

``Sometimes good things come to an end,'' Beilein told a news conference in Morgantown, W.Va. ``It's time for me to do new things at a new university.''

Beilein accepted Michigan's offer earlier in the day, and declined to reveal contract specifics. Michigan planned to introduce Beilein at a news conference on Wednesday in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Beilein took the job despite not visiting Michigan's campus. He'd never been in Morgantown, either, before leaving Richmond for West Virginia.

``I'm taking a leap of faith - again,'' he said.

The 54-year-old Beilein is the second straight Big East coach to take over at Michigan and is certain to see higher expectations. The Wolverines fired former Seton Hall coach Tommy Amaker in mid-March after six seasons without an NCAA appearance.

The Wolverines went to the NIT three times in the past four years. They haven't made the NCAAs since 1998.

``I am excited about this new opportunity at Michigan,'' Beilein said. ``I wouldn't go there if I didn't think they could win a national championship.''

Wherever he's coached, Beilein has been a success, taking teams without great talent to five NCAA tournaments and six NIT appearances in 29 seasons.

When he arrived at West Virginia in April 2002, the Mountaineers were coming off an 8-20 season in which Gale Catlett ended a 24-year career three weeks early in disgust over his team's poor performance and lack of pride.

Beilein went 104-60 at West Virginia, including 27-9 this year despite losing his top four scorers from a year ago. Only one other team in school history won more games - a Jerry West-led team that lost to California in the NCAA championship game in 1959.

Beilein's teams made deep runs in the NCAA tournament the previous two seasons and the Mountaineers beat Clemson 78-73 for the NIT title last week.

He's leaves behind a promising team that loses only top scorer Frank Young and center Rob Summers.

``A lot of guys are really sad and trying to figure out what they're going to do,'' Summers said. ``I told them they're still a team. Even though the coach left, you're still a family.''

It wasn't immediately known whether West Virginia made attempts to keep Beilein. Athletic director Ed Pastilong didn't immediately return a telephone message Tuesday.

In 2005, after taking the Mountaineers to the NCAA regional finals, Beilein received a contract extension to throw off a possible courtship from Virginia. A year ago he was courted heavily by North Carolina State but negotiations broke down over his contract's buyout clause.

It will cost Michigan $2.5 million to buy out Beilein at West Virginia, plus perhaps about $1 million a season in a multiyear contract and $900,000 to Amaker for firing him without cause.

West Virginia has become an attractive fishing ground for coaches lately. In December, Alabama tried to lure football coach Rich Rodriguez before he decided to stay in Morgantown and was given a two-year contract extension. But he lost his offensive line and wide receivers coaches to higher-profile jobs.

Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

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