Accused worker says Rodriguez offered job assistance

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Ex-West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez said he would find a job at Michigan for a WVU athletic fundraiser being investigated over an alleged racist remark, according to a sworn affidavit obtained by the Associated Press.

Larry Aschebrook confronted Rodriguez and former assistant coach Calvin Magee after being informed of a West Virginia University investigation into Magee's accusation. Aschebrook has denied making any such remark.

Magee's agent Mike Brown said Aschebrook told Magee, who is black, that he wouldn't have a chance at Rodriguez's former job because of his skin color.

University President Mike Garrison asked the university's Office of Social Justice in January to look into the allegations, which Magee initially made through his agent, who is also Rodriguez's agent.

In an affidavit dated March 25, Aschebrook said he called Rodriguez in Ann Arbor, Mich., and told Rodriguez and Magee that the allegations were going to ruin his career.

Aschebrook said in the affidavit that Rodriguez told him, "Don't worry about it. I'll get you a job up here. You've been loyal to me, I'll be loyal to you."

Rodriguez, who took over as head coach at Michigan in December and hired Magee as an assistant coach, suggested Aschebrook could raise money for Michigan football and work at his football camp.

"I then asked, 'why are you guys messing with my career?"' Aschebrook said in the affidavit. "I'm not admitting to something that isn't true."

Rodriguez responded, "Like I said, I'll get you a job tomorrow. You'll be fine."

Instead, Aschebrook, who was hired last August as executive director of the Mountaineer Athletic Club, is leaving at the end of the month for a fundraising job at Arizona State. He said Thursday the move had nothing to do with the WVU investigation.

Aschebrook's attorney, Dean Hartley of Wheeling, said Thursday he would like to see Rodriguez publicly clear his client's name.

"Sure. I mean, if Rich and Calvin were interested in hiring Larry at Michigan, the allegation that Larry is a racist has no basis in fact, does it?" Hartley said. "Why would an individual who has alleged that another individual is racist want to work with that person?"

WVU and Rodriguez are mired in a bitter public feud and a lawsuit over a $4 million buyout clause that Rodriguez claims he was pressured to sign - but was assured would never be enforced.