Dennis Erickson
Encyclopedia
Dennis Erickson is an American football
coach and former player. He was the head football coach at Arizona State University
until November 28, 2011, a position he had held since the 2007 season. In 2008 the Arizona Board of Regents had approved a contract extension to keep Erickson at Arizona State through June 2012. Previously, Erickson was the head coach at the University of Idaho
(1982–1985, 2006), the University of Wyoming
(1986), Washington State University
(1987–1988), the University of Miami
(1989–1994), and Oregon State University
(1999–2002). Erickson also was the head coach of two teams in the NFL
, the Seattle Seahawks
(1995–1998) and the San Francisco 49ers
(2003–2004), where he tallied a mark of 40–56. During his career at Miami, Erickson's team won two national championships, in 1989
and 1991
.
, 100 miles (160.9 km) north of Seattle, and in Everett
, 25 miles (40.2 km) north of Seattle. His father, Robert "Pink" Erickson, was the head football coach at Ferndale High School before becoming the head coach at Cascade High School in Everett. The younger Erickson played quarterback
at the rival Everett High
, coached by next-door neighbor, Bill Dunn. This "made for some quiet dinners on game day." As a junior, Dennis was the starting quarterback, beating out the former starter, senior Mike Price
, another future college head coach.
Price, the son of the head coach of Everett Junior College, was moved to defense as a safety. When Erickson left Washington State
for Miami
in 1989, he recommended Mike Price (who got the job) as his replacement and rented Erickson's Pullman
home. Erickson had beaten out Price for the Washington State job in 1987. Six years earlier in 1981, Price had beaten Erickson out for the job at Weber State University
in Ogden, Utah
. While at Idaho
, Erickson was 2-2 vs. Price's Weber teams. At Oregon State
, Erickson was 2-1 against Price's Washington State teams, not playing in 2002.
Erickson graduated from Everett High School
in 1965 and accepted a football scholarship to Montana State in Bozeman
to play for head coach, Jim Sweeney
. There, he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon
fraternity
. Erickson was an effective undersized quarterback
from 1966 to 1968, earning all-conference honors in the Big Sky
. Immediately after his senior season, he began his coaching career as a graduate assistant
for the Montana State Bobcats
in 1969. In 1970 at age 23, Erickson became the head coach at Billings Central Catholic High School
, staying for just a single season.
, Montana State University
, in 1971 under Sonny Holland, he became an offensive coordinator
in 1974 at the University of Idaho
under newly-promoted head coach, Ed Troxel
, and stayed for two seasons.
When Erickson's college coach, Jim Sweeney
, resigned from neighboring Washington State
after the 1975 season, and moved to Fresno State
in 1976, Erickson followed him to be the offensive coordinator for Sweeney's first three seasons. When Jack Elway
, a former Sweeney assistant at Washington State, was hired at San Jose State
in 1979, Erickson joined him for three seasons, again as the offensive coordinator. They instituted the spread offense, which Elway had picked up from his son's, (John Elway
's), high school coach. Erickson was a finalist for the Weber State job after the 1980 season, but lost out to his high school teammate and friend, Mike Price
. Erickson would finally get his head coaching chance following the next season.
. He was hired on December 11, 1981, succeeding Jerry Davitch
, who had been fired nine days before the final game (a one-point home loss against rival Boise State
). A pre-season playoff pick, Idaho finished the disappointing 1981 season
with six consecutive losses, and were winless in seven games in the Big Sky
. Erickson was hired by UI athletic director Bill Belknap and accepted a one-year contract at $38,001.
Building on his reputation as an offensive innovator, Erickson became Idaho's all-time winningest head coach in just four seasons with the Vandals
(1982
–85
), taking them to the I-AA playoffs in his first and fourth seasons. In his first season of 1982
, Erickson took an underachieving (and injured) 3–8 team in 1981 and immediately turned it into a 8–3 playoff team, led by decathlete
quarterback Ken Hobart
. Erickson's overall record with the Vandals was 32–15 (.680), 31–13 (.704) in the regular season and 1–2 in post season. He went 4–0 in the rivalry game
with Boise State
, a team which had dominated the series by winning the previous five games. (The winning streak against the Broncos reached 12 games until it was broken in 1994 when BSU
advanced to the I-AA finals.)
His most notable recruits at Idaho were his quarterbacks - future NFL
head coach, Scott Linehan
, who had future Oakland Raiders coach, Tom Cable
, blocking for him, and future College Football Hall of Fame
r, John Friesz
, who had Mark Schlereth
blocking for him. Erickson had revived Vandal football, quickly turning it into a top I-AA program, whose success was continued for another decade by former assistants Keith Gilbertson
(1986
–88
) and John L. Smith
(1989
–94).
Before 1982 the Vandals had posted only four winning seasons in over four decades, and had not had consecutive winning seasons since 1938. Idaho had three consecutive winning seasons only once (1903-05), and never had four. With Erickson's arrival as head coach, the program embarked on 15 consecutive winning seasons (1982-96) and 11 appearances in the Division I-AA playoffs.
Erickson's compensation for his fourth, and final, year at Idaho was $47,940.
on December 2, 1985. His four-year contract included a base annual salary of $60,000 plus $20,000 from radio and television, and the rent-free use of a home in Laramie
. He installed his "Air Express" form of the spread offense and led the Cowboys to a 6–6 season in 1986. He left Wyoming without notice after accepting the head coaching job at Washington State.
on January 7, 1987, he stated that it was his lifelong goal to be the head coach at WSU. His contract at WSU in 1987 was a five-year deal at an annual base salary of $70,000, with up to $30,000 from radio, television, and speaking engagements. He returned to the Palouse
after just 13 months in Wyoming, then led the Cougars to 3–7–1 in his first year, the same record the Cougars had the year before under Jim Walden
. Erickson turned around the Washington State program quickly, going 9–3 in the 1988 season and leading the normally pedestrian Cougars to a post-season victory in the Aloha Bowl
, their first bowl win since the 1931 Rose Bowl
. Erickson's continued success led to his hiring by the University of Miami
in March 1989
, although a week before he stated he was not leaving WSU.
, who had led the Hurricanes
to ten or more wins each the previous four seasons and a national championship in 1987 before departing for the NFL's Dallas Cowboys
. Erickson led Miami for six seasons (1989–1994), winning national championships in 1989 and 1991. That gave Erickson more national championships than any other Miami coach. Erickson's 0.875 winning percentage (63–9) at Miami remains the highest in the history of the program. However, his 1993 team went 9–3, the first season with fewer than ten wins for Miami since 1985, and lost its bowl game 29–0 to Arizona. In September 1994, the Hurricanes lost, 38–20, to Washington at the Orange Bowl, snapping the Canes' NCAA record 58-game home win streak. Moreover, the Hurricanes were found to have broken NCAA rules on Pell Grant
s due to a member of the financial aid office, and were placed on three years' probation not long after Erickson left the school. Erickson was interviewed about his time at the University of Miami for the documentary The U
, which premiered December 12, 2009 on ESPN
.
and Philadelphia Eagles
, Erickson accepted an offer to coach the Seattle Seahawks
in January 1995
for about $1 million per year, compared to the estimated $700,000 in his final year at Miami. In his first season, he switched starting quarterbacks from the #2 overall pick in the 1993 NFL Draft
, Rick Mirer
, and went to John Friesz
, whom he recruited to Idaho
in 1985
. Friesz guided the Seahawks to their biggest comeback win ever in a game, rallying from 20–0 down at the half after Mirer had started, and took the Seahawks to the final week of the season with an 8–7 record after starting 2–6 and a playoff berth on the line only to lose to Kansas City and finish 8–8. In 1996, the Seahawks finished 7-9, Erickson's worst record with the team. 1997
saw an ownership change in Seattle, in which Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen purchased the team from then owner Ken Behring
and helped pass a referendum for a new stadium to be built, that season, the Seahawks had one of the best passing offenses in the league, only to finish 8–8 after an 0–2 start in which they were outscored 76–17 in two home losses. After the season, Erickson, who had been told by new owner Paul Allen that he would return in 1998
had to fire longtime friend and assistant the special teams coach Dave Arnold
and replace him with Pete Rodriguez
. With a revamped lineup led by 1997 passing leader Warren Moon
the Hawks flew out of the gate with three-game winning streak (including a Kickoff Weekend shutout of the Eagles at Veterans Stadium
) but stumbled and lost their next three games. Later in the year, with the team playing at .500 he turned to Jon Kitna
to lead the offense and they responded with a close win at home against the Tennessee Oilers before going on the road to New York to play the Jets. In a hotly contested game that many viewed as the best combined offensive performances of 1998, the game came down to a blown call on a short touchdown run by Jets quarterback Vinny Testaverde
(where he was ruled to have scored despite replay evidence clearly showing his forward progress had been stopped short of the goal line) which cost Seattle the game and Erickson his job. Many Seahawks fans argue his fate may have been different had Seattle won that game, this game would be cited as one of the main reasons the NFL restored its instant replay review system following the season.
, a five-year contract at $300,000 per year The Oregon State Beavers
had become one of three perennial "cellar dwellers" in the Pacific-10 Conference. Expectations were so low that Erickson's predecessor, Mike Riley
, was promoted to an NFL head coaching position with the San Diego Chargers
after leading the Beavers to a 5–6 record.
In his first season, Erickson directed the Beavers to a 7–5 record, the program's first winning season in 29 years. The following year, Oregon State went 11–1, snapped a 33-year losing streak to the USC Trojans, and earned a share of the Pac-10 conference championship for the first time since the conference expanded to ten teams in 1978. It was the first time the Beavers won at least a share of a conference championship since 1964, when they were part of the AAWU. Oregon State began to develop a national reputation for its high-powered offense and a swarming defense. In fact, the team barely missed an invitation to play in the national BCS title game due to a late-in-the-game missed field goal against Washington
. The win over USC did, however, help Erickson's crew clinch a spot in the Fiesta Bowl
against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Oregon State won the bowl game 41–9, in what is generally considered to be one of Erickson's crowning career achievements.
At the close of the 2000 season's bowl games, the Beavers were ranked fourth nationally in the Associated Press top 25 College Football Poll with some national media stating that Oregon State would have been a favorite to win the BCS Championship at the Orange Bowl
had they been selected.
Before the 2001 season, Sports Illustrated
ranked Oregon State as the number one team in the nation. However, a lack of returning talent from the 2000 team took its toll, and the Beavers went 5–6. Among the players who hail from Erickson's high-octane 2000 team are NFL
stars Chad Johnson and T. J. Houshmandzadeh
. Both were selected in the 2001 NFL Draft
by the Cincinnati Bengals
.
Erickson was named Sporting News National Coach of the Year in 2000. His name also came up for several high-profile college football positions. In late 2000, Erickson was a primary choice to fill the vacant position at the University of Southern California
, however he spurned a $7.2 million, five year contract to remain with the Beavers; the position would eventually go to Pete Carroll
.
Erickson remained coach at Oregon State for four seasons (1999–2002) before accepting another coaching position in the NFL. His early departure left some OSU fans angry with him for not finishing-out his contract, but he is still credited with playing a leading role in resurrecting the Beavers. Mike Riley
returned to Corvallis to succeed Erickson as head coach in 2003
.
with the San Francisco 49ers
, and received a five-year contract at $2.5 million per year.
The Niners had serious salary cap problems, and Erickson lasted just two seasons before being fired, along with general manager
Terry Donahue
, after a 2–14 season in 2004
. The hiring of Erickson was very surprising and highly criticized. The 49ers had three defensive-oriented head coaches as finalists for their head coaching vacancy, but the offensive-minded Erickson ended up being hired. The 49ers' offense had mostly players who specialized in the West Coast Offense
that the previous head coach, Steve Mariucci
, ran. But the aggressive style of offense that Erickson is known for deviated greatly from that scheme and the hybrid scheme that Erickson employed in order to maintain parts of the West Coast Offense never worked out. Erickson did not coach during the 2005 season.
announced the re-hiring of Erickson as its head football coach. Erickson had won 32 games in his first four seasons as a head coach (1982–1985), then a I-AA program in the Big Sky Conference
. Idaho had since moved up to Division I-A in 1996. The previous head coach, Nick Holt
, resigned after just two seasons to take a higher paying assistant's job in the NFL, as defensive line coach for the St. Louis Rams
under new head coach Scott Linehan
, a former Vandal player and assistant coach. After a few days, Holt reconsidered and took another job back at USC, as defensive coordinator
under Pete Carroll
for even more money. Erickson's 2006 Vandals
broke fast early to a 4–3 record after seven games, then lost the final five conference games to finish at 4–8. Erickson was paid $215,000 by Idaho, with the 49ers making up the balance of $2.35 million from his NFL contract.
athletic director Lisa Love hired Erickson to replace Dirk Koetter
on December 9, 2006. Arizona State is the third Pac-10 program that he has coached.
Arizona State paid Dirk Koetter
$2.8 million and a $150,000 buyout to Idaho to complete the hiring of Erickson to a five-year contract. He immediately paid dividends at ASU, leading the Sun Devils to a 10–3 record, a share of the Pac-10 title and a berth in the Holiday Bowl
in 2007
. Erickson was named the Pac-10 Coach of the Year; the first to ever win the award at three different Pac-10 schools. He also coached another major award winner, as his kicker, Thomas Weber
, was named the Lou Groza Award
winner. Erickson worked for the relatively low salary of $500,000 from ASU in his first season, with another $2 million from the 49ers for the last year of his NFL contract. The remaining four years of the original ASU contract paid $1.275 million per year.
Erickson was fired by Arizona State on November 28, 2011, but will coach in the team's bowl game appearance which is expected to be announced on December 4, 2011.
Pacific Magazine, Sunday, August 13, 1995, p. 12-17.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach and former player. He was the head football coach at Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
until November 28, 2011, a position he had held since the 2007 season. In 2008 the Arizona Board of Regents had approved a contract extension to keep Erickson at Arizona State through June 2012. Previously, Erickson was the head coach at the University of Idaho
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
(1982–1985, 2006), the University of Wyoming
University of Wyoming
The University of Wyoming is a land-grant university located in Laramie, Wyoming, situated on Wyoming's high Laramie Plains, at an elevation of 7,200 feet , between the Laramie and Snowy Range mountains. It is known as UW to people close to the university...
(1986), Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
(1987–1988), the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
(1989–1994), and Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
(1999–2002). Erickson also was the head coach of two teams in the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
, the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
(1995–1998) and the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
(2003–2004), where he tallied a mark of 40–56. During his career at Miami, Erickson's team won two national championships, in 1989
1989 Miami Hurricanes football team
The 1989 Miami Hurricanes were the national champions of the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season. The national championship was the third won by the University of Miami in football.-Offense:-Defense:-Special Teams:-Schedule:...
and 1991
1991 Miami Hurricanes football team
The 1991 Miami Hurricanes were the national champions of the 1991 NCAA Division I-A football season, as determined by the AP Poll. 1991 was a split championship year, though, as the Washington Huskies finished #1 in the Coaches' Poll...
.
Early life
Erickson was raised in Ferndale, WashingtonFerndale, Washington
-Demographics:As of the census of 2009, there were 11,681 people, 3,901 households, and 2,303 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,409.1 people per square mile . There were 3,292 housing units at an average density of 529.7 per square mile...
, 100 miles (160.9 km) north of Seattle, and in Everett
Everett, Washington
Everett is the county seat of and the largest city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Named for Everett Colby, son of founder Charles L. Colby, it lies north of Seattle. The city had a total population of 103,019 at the 2010 census, making it the 6th largest in the state and...
, 25 miles (40.2 km) north of Seattle. His father, Robert "Pink" Erickson, was the head football coach at Ferndale High School before becoming the head coach at Cascade High School in Everett. The younger Erickson played quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
at the rival Everett High
Everett High School (Washington)
Everett High School is a secondary school located in Everett, Washington, United States, which educates grades 9 through 12. The school enrolls approximately 1,700 students annually, more than triple the state and district average....
, coached by next-door neighbor, Bill Dunn. This "made for some quiet dinners on game day." As a junior, Dennis was the starting quarterback, beating out the former starter, senior Mike Price
Mike Price
Mike Price is an American football coach. He is currently the head coach at the University of Texas at El Paso , a position he has held since 2004...
, another future college head coach.
Price, the son of the head coach of Everett Junior College, was moved to defense as a safety. When Erickson left Washington State
Washington State Cougars football
The Washington State Cougars football team is the intercollegiate football team of Washington State University. The team is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference...
for Miami
Miami Hurricanes football
The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships...
in 1989, he recommended Mike Price (who got the job) as his replacement and rented Erickson's Pullman
Pullman, Washington
Pullman is the largest city in Whitman County, Washington, United States. The population was 24,675 at the 2000 census and 29,799 according to the 2010 census...
home. Erickson had beaten out Price for the Washington State job in 1987. Six years earlier in 1981, Price had beaten Erickson out for the job at Weber State University
Weber State University
Weber State University is a public university located in the city of Ogden in Weber County, Utah, USA. It was founded in 1889 and is a coeducational, publicly supported university offering professional, liberal arts and technical certificates, as well as associate, bachelor's and master's degrees...
in Ogden, Utah
Ogden, Utah
Ogden is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. Ogden serves as the county seat of Weber County. The population was 82,825 according to the 2010 Census. The city served as a major railway hub through much of its history, and still handles a great deal of freight rail traffic which makes it a...
. While at Idaho
Idaho Vandals
The Idaho Vandals are the intercollegiate athletic teams of the University of Idaho. They participate in NCAA Division I - FBS in the Western Athletic Conference ....
, Erickson was 2-2 vs. Price's Weber teams. At Oregon State
Oregon State Beavers football
The Oregon State Beavers football team represents Oregon State University in NCAA Division I-A college football. The team first fielded an organized football team in 1893 and is currently a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. The head coach is Mike Riley, with Danny Langsdorf as the offensive...
, Erickson was 2-1 against Price's Washington State teams, not playing in 2002.
Erickson graduated from Everett High School
Everett High School (Washington)
Everett High School is a secondary school located in Everett, Washington, United States, which educates grades 9 through 12. The school enrolls approximately 1,700 students annually, more than triple the state and district average....
in 1965 and accepted a football scholarship to Montana State in Bozeman
Bozeman, Montana
Bozeman is a city in and the county seat of Gallatin County, Montana, United States, in the southwestern part of the state. The 2010 census put Bozeman's population at 37,280 making it the fourth largest city in the state. It is the principal city of the Bozeman micropolitan area, which consists...
to play for head coach, Jim Sweeney
Jim Sweeney (coach)
Jim Sweeney is a former American football coach. He served as the head coach at Montana State University , Washington State University , and California State University, Fresno . Sweeney's 143 wins as the head coach at Fresno State are the most in the history of the program...
. There, he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon
Sigma Alpha Epsilon
Sigma Alpha Epsilon is a North American Greek-letter social college fraternity founded at the University of Alabama on March 9, 1856. Of all existing national social fraternities today, Sigma Alpha Epsilon is the only one founded in the Antebellum South...
fraternity
Fraternity
A fraternity is a brotherhood, though the term usually connotes a distinct or formal organization. An organization referred to as a fraternity may be a:*Secret society*Chivalric order*Benefit society*Friendly society*Social club*Trade union...
. Erickson was an effective undersized quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
from 1966 to 1968, earning all-conference honors in the Big Sky
Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The BSC was founded in 1963. Member institutions are located in the western United States in the states of Arizona,...
. Immediately after his senior season, he began his coaching career as a graduate assistant
Graduate assistant
A graduate assistant is a position who serves in a support role at a university, usually while completing post-graduate education. The individual typically assists professors or with instructional responsibilities as teaching assistants, coaches with an athletic team, or university department...
for the Montana State Bobcats
Montana State Bobcats football
The Montana State Bobcats football program competes in the Big Sky Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Championship Subdivision for Montana State University. The program began in 1897 and has won three national championships...
in 1969. In 1970 at age 23, Erickson became the head coach at Billings Central Catholic High School
Billings Central Catholic High School
Billings Central Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Billings, Montana. It is one of three Catholic high schools in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Great Falls-Billings.-Background:...
, staying for just a single season.
Assistant coaching
From 1971 to 1981 Erickson was a college assistant coach, working with the offense. Beginning at his alma materAlma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
, Montana State University
Montana State Bobcats football
The Montana State Bobcats football program competes in the Big Sky Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Championship Subdivision for Montana State University. The program began in 1897 and has won three national championships...
, in 1971 under Sonny Holland, he became an offensive coordinator
Offensive coordinator
An offensive coordinator is a member of the coaching staff of a gridiron football team who is in charge of the offense. Generally, along with his defensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
in 1974 at the University of Idaho
Idaho Vandals football
The Idaho Vandals are a college football team that represents the University of Idaho. The Vandals currently compete in the Western Athletic Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I...
under newly-promoted head coach, Ed Troxel
Ed Troxel
-External links:* - Ed Troxel - Idaho - 1974-77...
, and stayed for two seasons.
When Erickson's college coach, Jim Sweeney
Jim Sweeney (coach)
Jim Sweeney is a former American football coach. He served as the head coach at Montana State University , Washington State University , and California State University, Fresno . Sweeney's 143 wins as the head coach at Fresno State are the most in the history of the program...
, resigned from neighboring Washington State
Washington State Cougars football
The Washington State Cougars football team is the intercollegiate football team of Washington State University. The team is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference...
after the 1975 season, and moved to Fresno State
Fresno State Bulldogs football
The Fresno State Bulldogs football team represents California State University, Fresno in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The green “V” on the Bulldogs' helmets, uniforms, field symbolize California Central Valley, specifically the San Joaquin Valley, the agricultural valley from which they...
in 1976, Erickson followed him to be the offensive coordinator for Sweeney's first three seasons. When Jack Elway
Jack Elway
John Albert "Jack" Elway, Sr. was an American football player and head coach; he was the father of John Elway, a Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback.-Early life:...
, a former Sweeney assistant at Washington State, was hired at San Jose State
San José State Spartans Football
The San Jose State Spartans represent San Jose State University and the Silicon Valley in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The Spartans play all home games in Spartan Stadium, which offers a seating capacity of over 30,000...
in 1979, Erickson joined him for three seasons, again as the offensive coordinator. They instituted the spread offense, which Elway had picked up from his son's, (John Elway
John Elway
John Albert Elway, Jr. is a former American football quarterback and currently is the executive vice president of football operations for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League . He played college football at Stanford and his entire professional career with the Denver Broncos...
's), high school coach. Erickson was a finalist for the Weber State job after the 1980 season, but lost out to his high school teammate and friend, Mike Price
Mike Price
Mike Price is an American football coach. He is currently the head coach at the University of Texas at El Paso , a position he has held since 2004...
. Erickson would finally get his head coaching chance following the next season.
Idaho
Erickson's head coaching career began at age 34 at the University of IdahoIdaho Vandals football
The Idaho Vandals are a college football team that represents the University of Idaho. The Vandals currently compete in the Western Athletic Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I...
. He was hired on December 11, 1981, succeeding Jerry Davitch
Jerry Davitch
Jerry J. Davitch is a former college football coach and secondary school administrator. Since 2004 he has served as the superintendent of schools in Richland Township, just northeast of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. He served in a similar capacity for eight years in nearby Conemaugh Township in...
, who had been fired nine days before the final game (a one-point home loss against rival Boise State
1981 Boise State Broncos football team
The 1981 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 1981 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Broncos competed in the Big Sky Conference and played their home games at Bronco Stadium, an outdoor facility on campus in Boise, Idaho...
). A pre-season playoff pick, Idaho finished the disappointing 1981 season
1981 Idaho Vandals football team
The 1981 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1981 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals, led by fourth-year head coach Jerry Davitch, were members of the Big Sky Conference and played their home games at the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility on campus in...
with six consecutive losses, and were winless in seven games in the Big Sky
Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The BSC was founded in 1963. Member institutions are located in the western United States in the states of Arizona,...
. Erickson was hired by UI athletic director Bill Belknap and accepted a one-year contract at $38,001.
Building on his reputation as an offensive innovator, Erickson became Idaho's all-time winningest head coach in just four seasons with the Vandals
Idaho Vandals football
The Idaho Vandals are a college football team that represents the University of Idaho. The Vandals currently compete in the Western Athletic Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I...
(1982
1982 Idaho Vandals football team
The 1982 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1982 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals, led by first-year head coach Dennis Erickson, were members of the Big Sky Conference and played their home games at the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility on campus in...
–85
1985 Idaho Vandals football team
The 1985 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1984 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals, led by fourth-year head coach Dennis Erickson, were members of the Big Sky Conference and played their home games at the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility on campus in...
), taking them to the I-AA playoffs in his first and fourth seasons. In his first season of 1982
1982 Idaho Vandals football team
The 1982 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1982 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals, led by first-year head coach Dennis Erickson, were members of the Big Sky Conference and played their home games at the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility on campus in...
, Erickson took an underachieving (and injured) 3–8 team in 1981 and immediately turned it into a 8–3 playoff team, led by decathlete
Decathlon
The decathlon is a combined event in athletics consisting of ten track and field events. The word decathlon is of Greek origin . Events are held over two consecutive days and the winners are determined by the combined performance in all. Performance is judged on a points system in each event, not...
quarterback Ken Hobart
Ken Hobart
Kenneth Charles "Ken" Hobart is a former professional football player, a quarterback in the USFL and CFL, where he played from 1985-90.-Collegiate career:...
. Erickson's overall record with the Vandals was 32–15 (.680), 31–13 (.704) in the regular season and 1–2 in post season. He went 4–0 in the rivalry game
Boise State – Idaho rivalry
The Boise State–Idaho rivalry is a college football game between the Boise State University Broncos and the University of Idaho Vandals, the only two Division I FBS programs in the state of Idaho. The game had been played annually from 1971–2010, and with the exception of the 2001–04 games, the...
with Boise State
Boise State Broncos football
This page discusses the Boise State football program. For more Boise State athletics, see Boise State Broncos.The Boise State Broncos football program represents Boise State University in college football and compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I as a member of the Mountain West...
, a team which had dominated the series by winning the previous five games. (The winning streak against the Broncos reached 12 games until it was broken in 1994 when BSU
1994 Boise State Broncos football team
The 1994 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 1994 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Broncos competed in the Big Sky Conference and played their home games at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho.The Broncos were led by second-year head coach Pokey Allen.Boise...
advanced to the I-AA finals.)
His most notable recruits at Idaho were his quarterbacks - future NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
head coach, Scott Linehan
Scott Linehan
Scott Thomas Linehan is an American football coach, currently the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions of the NFL. He was previously the head coach of the St...
, who had future Oakland Raiders coach, Tom Cable
Tom Cable
-NFL:-References:...
, blocking for him, and future College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
r, John Friesz
John Friesz
John Melvin "Deep" Friesz is a former professional American football quarterback in the National Football League for the San Diego Chargers, Washington Redskins, Seattle Seahawks, and the New England Patriots....
, who had Mark Schlereth
Mark Schlereth
Mark Frederick Schlereth is a former professional football player and current television sportscaster. Schlereth played guard in the NFL for 12 seasons with the Washington Redskins and Denver Broncos. He is currently a football analyst for ESPN on NFL Live, Sportscenter, and other programs...
blocking for him. Erickson had revived Vandal football, quickly turning it into a top I-AA program, whose success was continued for another decade by former assistants Keith Gilbertson
Keith Gilbertson
Keith Gilbertson, Jr. is an American football coach and former player. He is currently a scout with the Cleveland Browns of the NFL...
(1986
1986 Idaho Vandals football team
The 1986 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1986 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals, led by first-year head coach Keith Gilbertson, were members of the Big Sky Conference and played their home games at the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility on campus in...
–88
1988 Idaho Vandals football team
The 1988 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1988 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals, led by third-year head coach Keith Gilbertson, were members of the Big Sky Conference and played their home games at the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility on campus in...
) and John L. Smith
John L. Smith
John L. Smith is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the special teams coach at the University of Arkansas, under head coach Bobby Petrino...
(1989
1989 Idaho Vandals football team
The 1989 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1989 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals, led by first-year head coach John L...
–94).
Before 1982 the Vandals had posted only four winning seasons in over four decades, and had not had consecutive winning seasons since 1938. Idaho had three consecutive winning seasons only once (1903-05), and never had four. With Erickson's arrival as head coach, the program embarked on 15 consecutive winning seasons (1982-96) and 11 appearances in the Division I-AA playoffs.
Erickson's compensation for his fourth, and final, year at Idaho was $47,940.
Wyoming
Erickson was introduced as the head coach of the Division I-A Wyoming CowboysWyoming Cowboys football
The Wyoming Cowboys are a college football team that represents the University of Wyoming. They compete in the Mountain West Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I. The team has won 15 conference titles...
on December 2, 1985. His four-year contract included a base annual salary of $60,000 plus $20,000 from radio and television, and the rent-free use of a home in Laramie
Laramie, Wyoming
Laramie is a city in and the county seat of Albany County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 30,816 at the . Located on the Laramie River in southeastern Wyoming, the city is west of Cheyenne, at the junction of Interstate 80 and U.S. Route 287....
. He installed his "Air Express" form of the spread offense and led the Cowboys to a 6–6 season in 1986. He left Wyoming without notice after accepting the head coaching job at Washington State.
Washington State
When Erickson was introduced as the head coach of the Washington State Cougars of the Pac-10Pacific Ten Conference
The Pacific-12 Conference is a college athletic conference that operates in the Western United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I; its football teams compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of NCAA Division I football competition...
on January 7, 1987, he stated that it was his lifelong goal to be the head coach at WSU. His contract at WSU in 1987 was a five-year deal at an annual base salary of $70,000, with up to $30,000 from radio, television, and speaking engagements. He returned to the Palouse
Palouse
The Palouse is a region of the northwestern United States, encompassing parts of southeastern Washington, north central Idaho and, in some definitions, extending south into northeast Oregon. It is a major agricultural area, primarily producing wheat and legumes...
after just 13 months in Wyoming, then led the Cougars to 3–7–1 in his first year, the same record the Cougars had the year before under Jim Walden
Jim Walden
Jim "Jimmy" Walden is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Washington State University from 1978 to 1986 and at Iowa State University from 1987 to 1994, compiling a career college football record of 72–109–7.-Playing career:Walden played...
. Erickson turned around the Washington State program quickly, going 9–3 in the 1988 season and leading the normally pedestrian Cougars to a post-season victory in the Aloha Bowl
Aloha Bowl
The Aloha Bowl was a National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Bowl Subdivision college football bowl game played in Honolulu, Hawaii at Aloha Stadium. With the exception of the 1983-86 playings, the Aloha Bowl was traditionally played on Christmas morning in Honolulu. For most of its...
, their first bowl win since the 1931 Rose Bowl
1931 Rose Bowl
The 1931 Rose Bowl was the 17th Rose Bowl game, an American post-season college football game that was played on New Year's Day 1931 in Pasadena, California. It featured two undefeated teams, the Alabama Crimson Tide against the...
. Erickson's continued success led to his hiring by the University of Miami
Miami Hurricanes football
The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships...
in March 1989
1989 Miami Hurricanes football team
The 1989 Miami Hurricanes were the national champions of the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season. The national championship was the third won by the University of Miami in football.-Offense:-Defense:-Special Teams:-Schedule:...
, although a week before he stated he was not leaving WSU.
Miami
Expectations were very high at Miami, as Erickson replaced the successful Jimmy JohnsonJimmy Johnson (American football coach)
James William "Jimmy" Johnson is an American former NCAA and National Football League head coach. As of 2010, he is currently an analyst for Fox NFL Sunday, the Fox network's NFL pregame show. He was the first football coach whose teams won both an NCAA Division 1A National Championship and a...
, who had led the Hurricanes
Miami Hurricanes football
The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships...
to ten or more wins each the previous four seasons and a national championship in 1987 before departing for the NFL's Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
. Erickson led Miami for six seasons (1989–1994), winning national championships in 1989 and 1991. That gave Erickson more national championships than any other Miami coach. Erickson's 0.875 winning percentage (63–9) at Miami remains the highest in the history of the program. However, his 1993 team went 9–3, the first season with fewer than ten wins for Miami since 1985, and lost its bowl game 29–0 to Arizona. In September 1994, the Hurricanes lost, 38–20, to Washington at the Orange Bowl, snapping the Canes' NCAA record 58-game home win streak. Moreover, the Hurricanes were found to have broken NCAA rules on Pell Grant
Pell Grant
A Pell Grant is money the federal government provides for students who need it to pay for college. Federal Pell Grants are limited to students with financial need, who have not earned their first bachelor's degree or who are not enrolled in certain post-baccalaureate programs, through participating...
s due to a member of the financial aid office, and were placed on three years' probation not long after Erickson left the school. Erickson was interviewed about his time at the University of Miami for the documentary The U
The U (documentary)
The U is a 2009 documentary film produced by Miami based media studio rakontur and directed by Billy Corben. The U covers the rise and dominance of the Miami Hurricanes football team during the late 1980s and early 1990s....
, which premiered December 12, 2009 on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
.
Seattle
After turning down offers from both the Denver BroncosDenver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Erickson accepted an offer to coach the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
in January 1995
1995 Seattle Seahawks season
The 1995 Seattle Seahawks season was the team's 20th season with the National Football League. The 1995 season was head coach Dennis Erickson's first with the team.-1995 NFL Draft:-Staff:-Schedule:-External links:* *...
for about $1 million per year, compared to the estimated $700,000 in his final year at Miami. In his first season, he switched starting quarterbacks from the #2 overall pick in the 1993 NFL Draft
1993 NFL Draft
The 1993 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 25-26, 1993...
, Rick Mirer
Rick Mirer
Richard Franklin Mirer is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. After a successful collegiate career at the University of Notre Dame, Mirer was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks with the second pick in the 1993 NFL Draft. Mirer was traded to the Chicago Bears during...
, and went to John Friesz
John Friesz
John Melvin "Deep" Friesz is a former professional American football quarterback in the National Football League for the San Diego Chargers, Washington Redskins, Seattle Seahawks, and the New England Patriots....
, whom he recruited to Idaho
Idaho Vandals football
The Idaho Vandals are a college football team that represents the University of Idaho. The Vandals currently compete in the Western Athletic Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I...
in 1985
1985 Idaho Vandals football team
The 1985 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1984 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals, led by fourth-year head coach Dennis Erickson, were members of the Big Sky Conference and played their home games at the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility on campus in...
. Friesz guided the Seahawks to their biggest comeback win ever in a game, rallying from 20–0 down at the half after Mirer had started, and took the Seahawks to the final week of the season with an 8–7 record after starting 2–6 and a playoff berth on the line only to lose to Kansas City and finish 8–8. In 1996, the Seahawks finished 7-9, Erickson's worst record with the team. 1997
1997 Seattle Seahawks season
The 1997 Seattle Seahawks season was the team's 22nd season with the National Football League. The team traded quarterback Rick Mirer and signed Minnesota Vikings/Houston Oilers quarterback Warren Moon to be John Frieze's backup...
saw an ownership change in Seattle, in which Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen purchased the team from then owner Ken Behring
Ken Behring
Kenneth Eugene Behring is a real-estate developer, former owner of the Seattle Seahawks football team, and philanthropist.-Early years:...
and helped pass a referendum for a new stadium to be built, that season, the Seahawks had one of the best passing offenses in the league, only to finish 8–8 after an 0–2 start in which they were outscored 76–17 in two home losses. After the season, Erickson, who had been told by new owner Paul Allen that he would return in 1998
1998 Seattle Seahawks season
The 1998 Seattle Seahawks season was the team's 23rd season with the National Football League. A late-season loss to the New York Jets came due to a controversial call when Jets quarterback Vinny Testaverde ran in a touchdown but was downed short of the goalline yet the play was ruled a...
had to fire longtime friend and assistant the special teams coach Dave Arnold
Dave Arnold
Dave Arnold is an American chef from New York City. He is a leader in molecular gastronomy.-Personal history:Arnold grew up in the New York area and began tinkering with restaurant equipment after earning his MFA from Columbia University School of the Arts...
and replace him with Pete Rodriguez
Pete Rodriguez
-USFL:Rodriguez served as defensive line coach for the Michigan Panthers of the United States Football League from 1983-84. He was part of the USFL's first championship team, helping the Panthers to the title in 1983...
. With a revamped lineup led by 1997 passing leader Warren Moon
Warren Moon
Harold Warren Moon is a former American professional gridiron football quarterback who played for the Canadian Football League's Edmonton Eskimos and the National Football League's Houston Oilers, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs...
the Hawks flew out of the gate with three-game winning streak (including a Kickoff Weekend shutout of the Eagles at Veterans Stadium
Veterans Stadium
Philadelphia Veterans Stadium was a professional-sports, multi-purpose stadium, located at the northeast corner of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex...
) but stumbled and lost their next three games. Later in the year, with the team playing at .500 he turned to Jon Kitna
Jon Kitna
Jon K. Kitna is an American football quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 1996...
to lead the offense and they responded with a close win at home against the Tennessee Oilers before going on the road to New York to play the Jets. In a hotly contested game that many viewed as the best combined offensive performances of 1998, the game came down to a blown call on a short touchdown run by Jets quarterback Vinny Testaverde
Vinny Testaverde
Vincent Frank Testaverde is a former NFL quarterback. Testaverde last played for the Carolina Panthers and had previously played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots. Testaverde holds the NFL record for having...
(where he was ruled to have scored despite replay evidence clearly showing his forward progress had been stopped short of the goal line) which cost Seattle the game and Erickson his job. Many Seahawks fans argue his fate may have been different had Seattle won that game, this game would be cited as one of the main reasons the NFL restored its instant replay review system following the season.
Oregon State
In January 1999, Erickson returned to the college ranks when he was hired at Oregon State UniversityOregon State Beavers football
The Oregon State Beavers football team represents Oregon State University in NCAA Division I-A college football. The team first fielded an organized football team in 1893 and is currently a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. The head coach is Mike Riley, with Danny Langsdorf as the offensive...
, a five-year contract at $300,000 per year The Oregon State Beavers
Oregon State Beavers football
The Oregon State Beavers football team represents Oregon State University in NCAA Division I-A college football. The team first fielded an organized football team in 1893 and is currently a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. The head coach is Mike Riley, with Danny Langsdorf as the offensive...
had become one of three perennial "cellar dwellers" in the Pacific-10 Conference. Expectations were so low that Erickson's predecessor, Mike Riley
Mike Riley
Michael Joseph "Mike" Riley is an American football coach, currently the head coach of the Oregon State Beavers of the Pacific-12 Conference...
, was promoted to an NFL head coaching position with the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
after leading the Beavers to a 5–6 record.
In his first season, Erickson directed the Beavers to a 7–5 record, the program's first winning season in 29 years. The following year, Oregon State went 11–1, snapped a 33-year losing streak to the USC Trojans, and earned a share of the Pac-10 conference championship for the first time since the conference expanded to ten teams in 1978. It was the first time the Beavers won at least a share of a conference championship since 1964, when they were part of the AAWU. Oregon State began to develop a national reputation for its high-powered offense and a swarming defense. In fact, the team barely missed an invitation to play in the national BCS title game due to a late-in-the-game missed field goal against Washington
2000 Washington Huskies football team
The 2000 Washington Huskies football team represented the University of Washington in the 2000 NCAA Division I-A college football season. The Huskies won the 2001 Rose Bowl.-Regular season:...
. The win over USC did, however, help Erickson's crew clinch a spot in the Fiesta Bowl
2001 Fiesta Bowl
The 2001 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, played on January 1, 2001, was the 30th edition of the Fiesta Bowl. The game was played at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona between the Oregon State Beavers and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish .In the game, Oregon State quarterback Jonathan Smith threw for 305 yards...
against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Oregon State won the bowl game 41–9, in what is generally considered to be one of Erickson's crowning career achievements.
At the close of the 2000 season's bowl games, the Beavers were ranked fourth nationally in the Associated Press top 25 College Football Poll with some national media stating that Oregon State would have been a favorite to win the BCS Championship at the Orange Bowl
2001 Orange Bowl
The 2001 FedEx Orange Bowl game was a post-season college football bowl game and BCS National Championship match between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and the Florida State Seminoles on January 3, 2001, at Pro Player Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida...
had they been selected.
Before the 2001 season, Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
ranked Oregon State as the number one team in the nation. However, a lack of returning talent from the 2000 team took its toll, and the Beavers went 5–6. Among the players who hail from Erickson's high-octane 2000 team are NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
stars Chad Johnson and T. J. Houshmandzadeh
T. J. Houshmandzadeh
T. J. Houshmandzadeh, Jr. is an American football wide receiver who currently plays for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the seventh round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oregon State. Houshmandzadeh is of mixed...
. Both were selected in the 2001 NFL Draft
2001 NFL Draft
The 2001 NFL Draft took place on April 21–22, 2001 at the theater at Madison Square Garden, in New York City. This was the 66th National Football League draft in league history. The draft was broadcast on ESPN both days and eventually moved to ESPN2. No teams elected to claim any players in the...
by the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
.
Erickson was named Sporting News National Coach of the Year in 2000. His name also came up for several high-profile college football positions. In late 2000, Erickson was a primary choice to fill the vacant position at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, however he spurned a $7.2 million, five year contract to remain with the Beavers; the position would eventually go to Pete Carroll
Pete Carroll
Peter Clay Carroll is the head coach and executive Vice-President of the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He is a former head coach of the New York Jets, New England Patriots and the University of Southern California Trojans football team.-Early life:Carroll attended Redwood High...
.
Erickson remained coach at Oregon State for four seasons (1999–2002) before accepting another coaching position in the NFL. His early departure left some OSU fans angry with him for not finishing-out his contract, but he is still credited with playing a leading role in resurrecting the Beavers. Mike Riley
Mike Riley
Michael Joseph "Mike" Riley is an American football coach, currently the head coach of the Oregon State Beavers of the Pacific-12 Conference...
returned to Corvallis to succeed Erickson as head coach in 2003
2003 Oregon State Beavers football team
The 2003 Oregon State Beavers football team represented Oregon State University in the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Beavers offense scored 433 points while the defense allowed 301 points. Led by head coach Mike Riley, the Beavers won the 2003 Las Vegas Bowl.-Schedule:-Team players...
.
San Francisco
Erickson returned to the NFL in February 20032003 San Francisco 49ers season
The 49ers entered their 2003 season attempting to improve upon their 10-6 output from the previous year.-Week 1: vs. Chicago Bears:Sunday, September 7, 2003 at San Francisco Stadium at Candlestick Point, San Francisco, California...
with the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
, and received a five-year contract at $2.5 million per year.
The Niners had serious salary cap problems, and Erickson lasted just two seasons before being fired, along with general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
Terry Donahue
Terry Donahue
Terry Donahue is a former American football, player, coach, and executive and, currently, a football analyst. He served as the head football coach at the University of California, Los Angeles from 1976 to 1995, compiling a record of 151–74–8. From 2001 to 2005, Donahue served as...
, after a 2–14 season in 2004
2004 San Francisco 49ers season
The San Francisco 49ers started their 2004 season hoping to improve upon their disappointing 7-9 output from the previous season. However, the season was a complete disaster, as the 49ers were the worst team in football in 2004. The 49ers managed only two victories, both coming against...
. The hiring of Erickson was very surprising and highly criticized. The 49ers had three defensive-oriented head coaches as finalists for their head coaching vacancy, but the offensive-minded Erickson ended up being hired. The 49ers' offense had mostly players who specialized in the West Coast Offense
West Coast offense
In American football, "West Coast Offense" refers to two similar but distinct offensive-strategic-systems of play: the "Air Coryell" system; or more commonly the pass play system popularized by Bill Walsh...
that the previous head coach, Steve Mariucci
Steve Mariucci
Stephen Ray "Steve" Mariucci is a former National Football League coach. He coached for the San Francisco 49ers and most recently for the Detroit Lions.-Early career:...
, ran. But the aggressive style of offense that Erickson is known for deviated greatly from that scheme and the hybrid scheme that Erickson employed in order to maintain parts of the West Coast Offense never worked out. Erickson did not coach during the 2005 season.
Return to Idaho
On February 8, 2006, the University of IdahoIdaho Vandals football
The Idaho Vandals are a college football team that represents the University of Idaho. The Vandals currently compete in the Western Athletic Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I...
announced the re-hiring of Erickson as its head football coach. Erickson had won 32 games in his first four seasons as a head coach (1982–1985), then a I-AA program in the Big Sky Conference
Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The BSC was founded in 1963. Member institutions are located in the western United States in the states of Arizona,...
. Idaho had since moved up to Division I-A in 1996. The previous head coach, Nick Holt
Nick Holt
-External links:* - Nick Holt - Assistant Head Coach & Defensive Coordinator - 2009-* - Nick Holt - Defensive Coordinator - 2006-08* - "Holt bolts for Rams," - 07-Feb-2006* "In Holt he trusts." - 19-Aug-2006...
, resigned after just two seasons to take a higher paying assistant's job in the NFL, as defensive line coach for the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
under new head coach Scott Linehan
Scott Linehan
Scott Thomas Linehan is an American football coach, currently the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions of the NFL. He was previously the head coach of the St...
, a former Vandal player and assistant coach. After a few days, Holt reconsidered and took another job back at USC, as defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
under Pete Carroll
Pete Carroll
Peter Clay Carroll is the head coach and executive Vice-President of the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He is a former head coach of the New York Jets, New England Patriots and the University of Southern California Trojans football team.-Early life:Carroll attended Redwood High...
for even more money. Erickson's 2006 Vandals
2006 Idaho Vandals football team
The 2006 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in NCAA Division I FBS college football during the 2006 season. Idaho competed as a member of the Western Athletic Conference , and played their home games in the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facilty on campus in Moscow, Idaho...
broke fast early to a 4–3 record after seven games, then lost the final five conference games to finish at 4–8. Erickson was paid $215,000 by Idaho, with the 49ers making up the balance of $2.35 million from his NFL contract.
Arizona State
Erickson left to join a BCS school again in December 2006, after just ten months back at Idaho. Arizona StateArizona State Sun Devils football
The Arizona State Sun Devils' football program represents Arizona State University in college football, and competes in NCAA Division I FBS as a member of the Pacific-12 Conference....
athletic director Lisa Love hired Erickson to replace Dirk Koetter
Dirk Koetter
-NFL drafted players under Koetter:-External links:* *...
on December 9, 2006. Arizona State is the third Pac-10 program that he has coached.
Arizona State paid Dirk Koetter
Dirk Koetter
-NFL drafted players under Koetter:-External links:* *...
$2.8 million and a $150,000 buyout to Idaho to complete the hiring of Erickson to a five-year contract. He immediately paid dividends at ASU, leading the Sun Devils to a 10–3 record, a share of the Pac-10 title and a berth in the Holiday Bowl
2007 Holiday Bowl
The 2007 Pacific Life Holiday Bowl was a college football bowl game played December 27, 2007 in San Diego, California. It was part of the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season and one of 32 games in the 2007-2008 bowl season. It featured the Texas Longhorns against the Arizona State Sun...
in 2007
2007 Arizona State Sun Devils football team
The 2007 Arizona State Sun Devils football team represented Arizona State University in the college football season of 2007-2008. The team played its home games at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona.-Schedule:-San Jose State:...
. Erickson was named the Pac-10 Coach of the Year; the first to ever win the award at three different Pac-10 schools. He also coached another major award winner, as his kicker, Thomas Weber
Thomas Weber
Thomas Edward Weber is an American football placekicker who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2011...
, was named the Lou Groza Award
Lou Groza Award
The Lou Groza Award is presented annually to the top college football placekicker in the United States by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission. The award is named after former Ohio State Buckeyes and Cleveland Browns player Lou Groza.-Winners:...
winner. Erickson worked for the relatively low salary of $500,000 from ASU in his first season, with another $2 million from the 49ers for the last year of his NFL contract. The remaining four years of the original ASU contract paid $1.275 million per year.
Erickson was fired by Arizona State on November 28, 2011, but will coach in the team's bowl game appearance which is expected to be announced on December 4, 2011.
Family
Erickson and his wife, Marilyn, have two sons - Bryce and Ryan. Erickson hired his son, Bryce, to the Arizona State staff, beginning as a graduate assistant for two seasons.College
Further reading
"Out of Everett," The Seattle Times'The Seattle Times
The Seattle Times is a newspaper serving Seattle, Washington, US. It is the largest daily newspaper in the state of Washington. It has been, since the demise in 2009 of the printed version of the rival Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Seattle's only major daily print newspaper.-History:The Seattle Times...
Pacific Magazine, Sunday, August 13, 1995, p. 12-17.