Rich Rodriguez faces the $4 million buyout clause of the West Virginia University contract in the court of law, as West Virginia sued the former trainer to make sure they will get their money.

Rodriguez became the Michigan coach starting December 16, after seven seasons on Mountaineers bench. He was hired to replace the then retiring Lloyd Carr. Three days later, Rodriguez quit WVU, and according to his contract, he is to pay one third of the buyout cause within 30 days after the contract is terminated, another third within a year and the last third within two years.

The contract between WVU and Rich Rodriguez stipulates that coach will pay University the sum of four million dollars, payable within two years of termination if termination occurs after August 31, 2007 and on or before August 31, 2008.

Rodriguez previously signed a new deal with WVU in August this year, but failed to fulfill his contractual obligations, which is not the case for WVU. According to the officials, Rodriguez’s contracted stipulated a $100,000 increase in the assistant coaches’ salaries, which WVU respected accordingly.

The contract also required Rodriguez to give a written notice in case something should happen, which the WVU former coach failed to do. At the same time, university representatives stated that they never gave him permission to speak to the Michigan officials.

It appears that the West Virginia University has had the same bad luck twice this year, with two coaches leaving for Michigan. First there was men’s basketball coach John Beilein, who left the WVU in April, then came Rich Rodriguez’s December unexpected decision.

Rodriguez left a furious crowd of fans, right before the Fiesta Bowl on Wedensday. The West Virginia University coach will be assistant Bill Steward, until further notice.