Tony Ding / AP

New Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said Monday he doesn't think "it best serves West Virginia if I'm thinking about the Big House" while trying to coach the Fiesta Bowl.

Martin and university president Mary Sue Coleman talked with Rodriguez, his wife and agent Friday in Toledo, Ohio. West Virginia athletic director Ed Pastilong met with Rodriguez on Saturday, saying they talked about general issues within the program.

Pastilong had said he was unaware Rodriguez went to Toledo and declined to disclose whether he had given Michigan permission to talk to the coach.

West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin blamed the involvement of what he termed “high-priced agents” in college sports.

“I have known Rich for most of his life, from a boy whose only wish was to play football at WVU to a young man whose only wish was to coach at WVU,” Manchin said in a statement. “Something is wrong with the profession of college coaching today when a leader’s word is no longer his bond.”

Alabama’s interest in Rodriguez last year wore on the Mountaineers for several days before he agreed to a one-year contract extension through 2013. The deal included a $4 million buyout clause if he leaves before next September.

Like Beilein, Rodriguez will make enough money at Michigan to cut West Virginia a big check.

“The lawyers are working on it. ... They’re a lot smarter than me,” Rodriguez said when asked about the buyout.

“The money thing was not an issue in this decision,” he said.

Mike Brown, Rodriguez’s agent, said his client and Michigan have agreed to the framework of a deal, but it had not been finalized.

Brown declined to comment on the buyout with West Virginia.

Martin said he was prepared to pay as much as $3 million for a coach, roughly doubling what Carr made annually.

Michigan is paying Beilein $1.3 million a season, plus bonuses, as part of a six-year contract.

When Michigan lured Beilein away from West Virginia last April, his contract had a $2.5 million buyout clause. Under an agreement with West Virginia, Beilein agreed to pay $1.5 million to the WVU Foundation.

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