The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the school wants Beilein to have the opportunity to inform his Mountaineer players that he's leaving before Michigan publicly announces the hiring.

West Virginia player Darris Nichols said Beilein planned to meet with his players today.

Media reports linked Beilein with the Wolverines just days after he led the Mountaineers to the National Invitation Tournament championship. 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.

Beilein's West Virginia teams made deep runs in the NCAA tournament the previous two seasons. Despite graduating their top four scorers from a year ago, the Mountaineers went 27-9, including a 78-73 win over Clemson in the NIT title game on Thursday.

The 54-year-old Beilein, under contract through the 2011-12 season, earns at least $740,000 per season with annual increases of $20,000.

He takes over for Tommy Amaker, who was fired last month following six seasons without an NCAA tournament appearance.

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. His 1-3-1 defense gives opponents fits and his offense ranked second in the country with 10 3-pointers made per game this season.

In only one of his five previous coaching jobs has Beilein stayed more than five years. He spent nine years at LeMoyne, then five apiece at Canisius and Richmond before coming to West Virginia, where he is in his fifth season.

In 2005, after taking the Mountaineers to the NCAA regional finals, Beilein received a contract extension to derail a possible courtship from Virginia.

Last year North Carolina State came calling, but a $3 million buyout clause in Beilein's contract derailed negotiations.