Terry Bowden would like to return to coaching at West Virginia

"We'll start recruiting for the University of Michigan right away," he said.

Bobby Bowden coached the Mountaineers from 1970-75, going 42-26 before leaving for Florida State. Terry Bowden played running back for West Virginia in 1977-78.

Terry Bowden won his first 20 games at Auburn and 47 overall in six-plus seasons before resigning on Oct. 23, 1998, after learning he was going to be fired at the end of the season.

Another coach interested in West Virginia is Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster, said his agent, Bob Lattinville, although he said no contact has been made with the Mountaineers.

Also being mentioned as a possible candidate is Florida State offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher, a Clarksburg native.

But Fisher has a $2.5 million buyout clause in his contract if he leaves Florida State before Jan. 9, 2011, after agreeing to be FSU's "head coach-in-waiting."