Dennis Erickson Accepts Football Position
January 12, 1999
Corvallis, Ore. -
Dennis Erickson, already one of the most successful college football coaches in history with two national championships under his belt at the University of Miami, has been named head football coach at Oregon State University to succeed Mike Riley, it was announced Tuesday by Mitch Barnhart, the Beavers director of athletics. In announcing the hiring of the 51-year-old Erickson, former head coach of the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League, Barnhart has pulled off the most prominent hiring of a head coach in the history of Oregon State athletics.
The only other hiring in the history of Beaver athletics to compare with the magnitude of the Erickson hiring was the hiring of Ralph Miller in 1971 as OSUs head basketball coach, a year after being named Coach-of-the-Year at Iowa in the Big Ten Conference. Miller, of course, went to win 674 collegiate games and earn a spot in the James Naismith Hall of Fame in 1988.
Erickson, who becomes the 28th head football coach in Oregon State history, has agreed to a five-year contract which will pay him a base salary of $150,000 per year and a total package that calls for $300,000 per year.
We are extremely excited about having Dennis and Marilyn Erickson join the family at Oregon State University," said a delighted Barnhart. "It is a wonderful time for Beaver fans to jump behind the momentum that we gained through the 1998 season as we try to move forward and continue the progress made by this team. It is also a great time to challenge the Beavers as a team to get done off the field the things they need to do as we prepare for a new Era in Oregon State football.
"I appreciate the support that President Paul Risser continues to show for intercollegiate athletics at Oregon State University," Barnhart continued. "It means a great deal to have leadership from the administration as we continue our drive to have a successful and competitive athletic program, both on the field and off the field." President Risser, currently on an alumni trip out of the country, was pleased to welcome Erickson. "It is special to have someone of Denniss ability to lead our program," said Risser. "His past accomplishments speak volumes to his talent for guiding and coaching young people. I am confident we will enjoy success both on and off the field with Erickson."
President Risser also addressed the issue of the hiring process.
"During this important time in recruiting, I am particularly pleased the search was efficient and effective and we will be able to continue the momentum from our 1998 season."
Erickson becomes OSUs 28th head coach less than one week after Riley was announced as the new head coach of the San Diego Chargers on Thursday, January 7.
Erickson brings to Oregon State a legacy of winning in the collegiate ranks. He brings a 13-year record as a Divison I collegiate head coach of 113-40-1, including national championships in 1989 and 1991 at Miami, and a winning percentage of .737. His 1989 team produced a 11-1 record, and his 1991 team went undefeated, 12-0. He has coached at four major universities and has had only one losing season, 1987 in his first year at Washington State when the Cougars recorded a 3-7-1 mark. Erickson quickly reversed that record and his 1988 WSU squad finished 9-3 and ranked 16th in the nation.
Erickson then left Washington State in 1989, moving to the University of Miami where he won a national championship in his first year.
During Ericksons very successful six-year stint with the Hurricanes, he compiled an NCAA-best record of 63-9-0 (.875), which included a 35-2 home mark at the Orange Bowl, and part of an NCAA record 58 straight wins. He became only the second head coach in NCAA history to win a national championship in his first season at a school.
Erickson has been named Coach of the Year in three different conferences--Big Sky, Pac-10 and Big East. He reached 100 career wins in his 137th game, becoming the third-quickest to reach that plateau among Division I head coaches who were active in 1994, trailing Penn State Universitys Joe Paterno (122 games) and the University of Nebraskas Tom Osborne (126 games).
After leading Miami to a 10-2 record and No. 6 ranking nationally in 1994, Erickson accepted the head coaching reigns of the National Football Leagues Seattle Seahawks. He coached Seattle the past four seasons and produced a four-year record of 31-33-0 (.484). Ericksons Seahawks finished 8-8 three times and 7-9 in 1996. Erickson is a native of Everett, Washington. His father, Robert (Pink) Erickson, was a highly-successful high school coach at Ferndale High School in Ferndale, Washington, and Cascade High School in Everett, and he and his wife, Mary, still live in Everett.
Dennis attended Everett High School, lettering in football and basketball and was 2-1 against his father. Former Washington head coach, Jim Lambright (1961), and current Washington State head coach, Mike Price (1964), along with Erickson (1965), all attended Everett High School.
Erickson was a three-year starter at quarterback at Montana State University from 1966 to 1968, twice earning earning first-team All-Big Sky Conference honors in 1967 and 68. He was also named honorable mention All-America as a senior. He set Montana State records for career total offense (3,945 yards), career passing yards (3,181), passing yards in a single-season (1,189 in 1968), passing yards in a single game (282 vs. Montana), while ranking second all-time with 126 points and 21 touchdowns.
Ericksons 70-yard pass to Ron Bain against Northern Arizona in 1968 was a school record. In addition, he was the holder for future NFL Hall of Fame kicker Jan Stenerud. He graduated with a B.S. in Physical Education. Dennis and his wife, Marilyn, have two sons, Bryce and Ryan. Dennis was born March 24, 1947, in Everett, WA.
