December 9, 2006
Dennis Erickson hired at Arizona State
When Dennis Erickson said he wanted to get back into coaching, most thought his most recent stint at Idaho wouldn't last long - the guy is just too good of a coach. Well, it looks like Erickson has landed at Arizona State, according to Idaho AD Rob Spear.
Arizona State must pay a $150,000 buyout to Idaho. Erickson had signed a five-year deal, and Spear said he was "very disappointed" in the coach's decision to leave after only one season.
"Had we known that we were going to end up in this situation we would never have gone down that road," Spear said. "We made a commitment and we thought we had a commitment from the other end, but I wish Dennis Erickson the best."
Erickson is expected to bring OC Dan Cozzetto to Tempe with him from Idaho. Cozzetto was also OC at ASU from 1992-1999. Sources are also saying that many of the defensive coaches at ASU might be retained by Erickson. For example, current Sun Devils CB coach Al Simmons also worked under Erickson previously.
Erickson is the 11th winningest active Division I coach, with a record of 149-64-1 in 18 college seasons.
Comments:
UWDAWG said:
posted on December 9, 2006 11:46 PM — 82.206.158.26 — link — abuse?
Best COLLEGE coach that was AVAILABLE, barnone. Says volumes about the impressions of the Bama and Miami coaching positions among viable candidates, that he wasn't enticed by either...Don't think for a second that either of those schools wouldn't have grabbed him in a heartbeat..Great hire for ASU, though presents another hurdle for the rest of us PAC'ers trying to regain respectability on the field..Go Dawgs
clemson1981 said:
posted on December 9, 2006 11:49 PM — 74.226.197.244 — link — abuse?
see this is the man the u should have gone after, not davis, not spurrier, not shannon (i do think he was a good hire though). but to late now, i don't think erickson will win here, not as long as king pete is out there in the land of troy and carl dorell is at ucla and tedford is coaching cal, i think hes at ASU for 2-3 years then its off to some other school where he will accually win. an ok hire....i guess.
Tom Stand said:
posted on December 10, 2006 12:17 AM — 24.17.168.32 — link — abuse?
Dennis Erickson will ruin ASU!! He took a Miami team with NONE of his recruits and won a title sure! When Erickson took over with his found talent...His true CRAP of recruitment showed up!! As a NFL head coach he is one of the worst of all time. Dennis also had a stint @ Oregon. AGAIN, taking a great team running it into the ground and getting out leaving another program in BIG troubles....ASU, President and AD "WATCH OUT" your real problems just started his record is tainted with GREAT PROGRAMS he ruined...therefore the good winning percentage record...LOOK IT OVER DON'T GET ERICKSONED!!! Hell in Miami this guy is still up @ local post office buildings as biggest D.S. in the Hurricane program!!!
Quincy Ward said:
posted on December 10, 2006 4:39 PM — 205.188.116.133 — link — abuse?
Ala Crimson tide problem is Mal Moore. What an idiot. How many coaches has he hired and fire!!
Dibpise, Fran, Price and he fires his best possible coach. Mike Shula was doing well even though I know he didn't beat Auburn but look at the good teams Auburn has had. He had the youngest team after taking over the debacle of NCAA recruiting problems from Mal Moores previous coaches. He should have been given at least another year. Look at the problem Mal is having trying to recruit now!!katharizo said:
posted on December 10, 2006 7:06 PM — 24.117.127.121 — link — abuse?
Good luck ASU...he's gone as soon as something better rolls around. It doesn't matter how long the contract is that you give him, or how committed D.E. says he is, he won't stay long at a pathetic program like ASU's.
Trojans rule!
Chris said:
posted on December 10, 2006 10:17 PM — 141.213.245.250 — link — abuse?
Tom Stand,
You are incorrect. He did not coach Oregon and run it into the ground. He coached Oregon St. and took it to a Fiesta Bowl win. This was when Oregons St. hadn't had a winning record in like 30 years or something. His history is great, his rep not so much. It will be interesting to see what happens.djohnson said:
posted on December 11, 2006 1:49 PM — 63.241.158.17 — link — abuse?
Dennis Erickson has no integrity at all and is one poor excuse of a human being. His time as an effective coach is long past. He may have started the spread formation years ago but what's he done lately besides lose. Just tell him not to let the door hit him in the butt on the way out of town.
So Cal USMC said:
posted on December 11, 2006 1:53 PM — 204.62.68.23 — link — abuse?
Now, will Stoops leave Arizona?
Tom Stand sounds like a bitter/uninformed Miami fan... Erickson won TWO National Titles at Miami; 1 with someone else's recruits and another with mainly his own.
And I dont think Arizona State fans would mind too much if Erickson "Won with Dirk Koetter's recruits", call me crazy. Oregon State fans must ~hate it~ that they finished Top 5 in the Country in 2000.
We'll see if he's still anygood at using 'others recruits'
volstrike3 said:
posted on December 11, 2006 2:07 PM — 216.103.178.34 — link — abuse?
Dennis Erickson can flat out coach regardless of who's recruits he is coaching. You can use the "inherited talent" argument for some guys but Erickson has had success at three major programs. ASU is a great place to go to school (wow, talk about good looking girls) and he will have no program turning them into a Pac 10 contender.
gary said:
posted on December 11, 2006 3:10 PM — 75.202.32.234 — link — abuse?
Let me give you the lowdown on Dennis Erickson from a die hard cane opinion.
He took over after jimmy johnson and was handed a goldmine of talant.
Recruiting : everyone wanted to be a hurricane in those days. recruiting was an easy job for us because we were so talented and cocky about it.
Erickson ruined our program. Sapp was failing drug tests and it was being covered up. You had the pell grants that players were getting even though they didn't qualify thru the coaching staff involvement. Our 58 home win streak ended with a thumping from washington.
And to top all of this ?#$! off. Luther Cambell from the band 2 live crew was on the hurricane sidelines and paying cash to players if they hurt an opposing teams player.
I hated that SOB for what he did to my canes. His recruits were pansy asses with no heart. How do I know? Because it was the only time me and my father put bags on our heads to watch our dear canes play. But they didn't play, they danced to the stadium music on the sideline during the game.
Erickson is a better coach today, but he was a horrible leader.
Recall ever seeing on ESPN a hurricane player on the sideline using his cellphone to call his girlfriend. THAT HAPPENED UNDER ERICKSON. DONT TELL ME HE WASNT INTERESTED IN THE MIAMI JOB, CAUSE WE SURE IN THE HELL WASNT INTERESTED IN HIM
shewwwww, I've been holding that in for way to long.
Gary
john said:
posted on December 11, 2006 7:03 PM — 67.106.230.62 — link — abuse?
ASU is going to "regret" the day they hired Erickson!!!! He destroyed every college football program he ran (Miami, Idaho, Oregon State & Wyoming) and then like "ran for the hills" as the programs "imploded" under scandals, crimes and gross mismanagement leaving his successors to "pick up the pieces"!!! This is a tragic day for the Sun Devil Football Program.
fedup said:
posted on December 11, 2006 7:06 PM — 70.110.49.30 — link — abuse?
ok. Listen up all you "experts" AKA arm-chair coaches/quarterbacks: Dennis Erickson does not give a crap about you, your opinions, your thoughts, your rants or your feelings on this subject. He will do what he does best: win and turn ASU back into what it should be; a winning program. So all you 9-to-5ers just stick to your ho-hum normal, everyday, average jobs and leave the coaching to the REAL coaches.
katharizo said:
posted on December 11, 2006 9:11 PM — 24.117.127.121 — link — abuse?
Fedup:
Are you an expert? If you are, then what are you doing responding to the comments of "air chair coaches"? You should be out turning around struggling programs instead of worrying about the opinions of "hohum 9 to 5ers with average jobs".
Geez...what a jerk.
katharizo said:
posted on December 11, 2006 10:15 PM — 24.117.127.121 — link — abuse?
Here's a must-read article for all of you Sun Devil fans who put any faith in the words of D.E.
The Mayor said:
posted on December 12, 2006 2:01 AM — 67.174.192.148 — link — abuse?
katharizo,
Thanks for the link to the article about Dennis Erickson, I have e-mailed it to all of my Sun Devil friends.
The reaction among my friends in Maricopa County to the announcement...."wtf?"
I don't see any greatness on the horizon for Sparky.
Tommie Trojan said:
posted on December 12, 2006 11:32 AM — 64.32.153.19 — link — abuse?
Just lookin' at his record - it looks like he's a quick fix guy. I would guess that he can't recruit worth a lick - but he can take a pretty good foundation and win with it. He won't be there more than three years and he'll move on to some other place with some talent. He probably even hates recruiting. He didn't want to recruit for Idaho and Koetter already had some guys on the string. That makes his job easier, although next to Stanford, I'd bet that ASU finishes up 9th in recruiting in the Pac-10.
Tommie T
Yoly said:
posted on December 12, 2006 11:57 AM — 204.95.150.205 — link — abuse?
D.E. He might have a background or whatever but Im getting my season tickets this year. he got two championships under him more than Kotter got us! What if he decides to leave or stay in the future! its all about now! I know Im getting my tickets this year again! I didnt get my tickets last year after having them for over 9 yrs. Im excited and look forward to see my Devils win and win under D.E.
Reality Check said:
posted on December 12, 2006 3:49 PM — 12.43.234.14 — link — abuse?
You can take him or leave. Dennis Erikson the man wasn't hired at ASU, nor Idaho for that matter. Both schools hired Dennis Erickson the coach. I understand the resentment that the Idaho fans have towards him. Hell, I bet all 8 of you would love the chance to confront him in a dark alley if you could. I would imagine that every coach in the country would've left Idaho for the ASU job. I know that the Idahoans don't particularly like to hear it, but the Vandals aren't exactly on the BCS map. Sure he may have made promises that he never intended on keeping, but maybe that was to be expected. The article could have been written by any disgruntled Vandal fan and had just as much weight to it. I got a little confused when it addressed "rebuilding" the Vandal program though. My understanding is that something has to have been built before, to constitute the need for "rebuilding". I think the issue lies in the fact that Erickson didn't give birth to a football program at Idaho rather than rebuild it; and that's what has most Vandal fans PO'ed. Most programs that grow from obscurity into decent (if not winning) programs usually reside in "hotbeds" for football (i.e. Florida, California, Texas, Ohio etc.). Again, Idaho isn't on that map either. Granted, ASU isn't necessarilly in a "hotbed" either, but they play in a conference with a rich football history that more than makes up for it. I'm positive that the new Vandal coach will uphold the traditions of the University and do his best to win football games. What more could the Vandal faithful really expect. I'm not knocking your school. I'm sure it is a wonderful institution, but it will never be a major player in college football, regardless of who's coaching the team. That being said, I still think Erickson "the man" sucks and I'm not to fond of Erickson "the coach" either.
So Cal USMC said:
posted on December 12, 2006 9:42 PM — 204.62.68.23 — link — abuse?
Two of Miami's Five National Titles were won under Coach Dennis Erickson ... Oregon State was ONE-WIN AWAY, a 33-30 loss @ Washington (11-1), from possibly facing Oklahoma in the 2000 National Title Game under Dennis Erickson!
If Arizona State found themselves somewhere in between those type of results in a couple of years, I dont think their fans would mind that he might "leave" a short time after that.
Say what you will, but you gotta give the guy credit for his Coaching ablity... besides, Im sure he's on close watch/short leach now-a-days.
wareagle524 said:
posted on December 15, 2006 4:34 PM — 63.162.187.217 — link — abuse?
Man, I really thought Erickson would have liked to stay in Idaho. It is probably very similar to Miami when it comes to climate, prestige, and of course women.
I myself would definately like to set up camp in F*in' Idaho!
Give me a break.
It would be nice to see him bring ASU up a couple notches. I'm sure their recruiting classes to come will get better and better.
It's still the pac-10 and they are not USC...
T-Mac said:
posted on December 17, 2006 8:48 PM — 66.78.139.117 — link — abuse?
So Cal, Wareagle and goodolnuma5 are talking to each other. Not you. Why do you have to get up in the middle of every conversation bro? Start a topic/conversation of your own. Many times people will start to discuss a topic on these threads and you step in and ruin it. Have some "tact" man and butt out once in a while. Hell, man they are crackin on Idaho. What the hell is in Idaho anyway??? That's a state I've never been to. Just curious. I must admit that I do like potatos though! Go Idaho!!!
The Mayor said:
posted on December 18, 2006 2:14 AM — 72.254.44.179 — link — abuse?
T Mac
EF-111's were based in Mt Home ID and jammed a lot of Iraqi yaki in the first gulf war...
I spent a lifetime at MHAFB, ID in the 70's, a real peacetime SH. Nothing like what you saw, but frustration nation none the less.
You won't miss much unless you like to ski or fish.
Still, I I can't wait for Erickson to bail...perhaps to the Raiders in 2008?
Z said:
posted on December 20, 2006 3:33 PM — 128.32.104.143 — link — abuse?
Since Mike Riley and Dennis Erickson have coached at OSU, people have forgotten how terrible the Beavs were.... for 35+ years they never had a winning season. Erickson took them to the Fiesta Bowl in 2000 and hammered Notre Dame. I think any coach who has won two National Championships knows what they're doing- I don't care if he used his recruits or someone elses.... two NC means he is an elite coach. ASU hiring DE is another example of how deep the competition will be in the PAC-10, as of right now there is only one "doormat" team in the Pac-10, and that's Stanford- all the other teams can beat you on any Saturday. I can't really see that happening in any other conference- most have 3-5 "doormat" teams. Oh yeah, Miami fans need to shut it... your team isn't predicted to even beat Nevada in their Bowl game- that sounds pretty soft doesn't it ATLien?!
Uncle B said:
posted on December 20, 2006 4:39 PM — 199.104.207.2 — link — abuse?
We feel betrayed. Only one season@ Idaho. Why do this to a program trying to rebuild? I wish we never hired him. I live in Arizona and am no longer an ASU fan. Go UofA Wildcats. Wishing the best for Idaho and a class group of athletes, parents, university and city.
JuJo said:
posted on December 23, 2006 8:48 PM — 69.236.81.157 — link — abuse?
I would have to agree with most of you in regards to how great Erickson is as a head coach. Erickson does have two national championships with the "U", and did turn around Oregon States' program and he has produce some top college players that play on Sundays. Chad Johnson, Sapp, Lewis, just to name a few. Erickson was put in a position both in Seattle and in San Fransico not to succeed because of the upper managment in both those organizations. Both organizations were in shambles and he did start building both teams before he was fired. How would you like to run a team with out being able to draft the players that best fit your program. Thats like trying to manage a business for someone that wants to only hire super models that have no brains, it just won't work. As for Idaho, I think they brought him in to rebuild the team, but as a recuit who is going to Idaho. I do not think Idaho has a chance making a run at the national championship let along any bowl, no matter who's coaching. Idaho was just using him for his name. Erickson is a very bright coach and will turn ASU into a PAC 10 contender and a bowl team in the near future. Mark my word they will win the PAC 10 within 5 years...As a Canes fan that I am, you other so called Canes fans should be bad mouthing Chocker, not Erickson....get over it...we'll be back in the top 25 once again...
Bart said:
posted on December 28, 2006 12:16 PM — 64.136.27.226 — link — abuse?
I've followed Sun Devil football since I was a kid. They were on the verge of greatness during the Kush era when they jumped the WAC for the then PAC-8. In many ways, up until that point, ASU football paralleled FSU . . . until legendary Frank Kush was fired amidst accusations that he punched a player. The rest is history. FSU became a premier team and ASU became stepping-stone-U: a second-tier school that a coach, if successful, could use to land a job at a first-tier school (example: John Cooper leaving for OSU). Since the late 70s fans have been waiting for ASU to "turn the corner" and establish itself as a perennial top 10 program. Since the late 70s ASU has had more coaches than Elizabeth Taylor has had husbands, and with each one has come the hope (and hype) that ASU's time has come.
The teaser is that there's really no reason why ASU shouldn't be a perennial football power, or at the least a mainstay in the top 20. Arizona State is the largest university in the nation; the location is great, as are the facilites. The Phoenix area is hungry for a successful football team and it's clear that the woeful Cards aren't going to fill that need. Is Erickson the answer? If he is, I fear that it will only be in a mercenary sense. His character is a proven liability. The fact that he was so quick to break his contract and jump ship at Idaho should give the Sun Devils pause. However, in college football, as with most sports, winning covers a multitude of sins.
UIVandal18 said:
posted on January 1, 2007 7:31 PM — 71.209.11.50 — link — abuse?
Being from the University of Idaho, there are a couple of things that need to be said.
One, get your facts right when you say something; the unabomber was from Montana. Another thing, Idaho isn't a hot bed for football? Or on the BCS map? As much as i hate to say it being a Vandal, but Boise State (thats in Idaho genius) is and has been a successful football team competing in numerous bowl games across the country.
The only other thing is, the reason we're upset is not because he left after one year. It's the fact that he left after one year after promising as many times as someone would ask him that he was staying at Idaho until he retired. He did not need the money, but instead chose to be greedy and leave this town and University. In Idaho, most people still give value to a man's word or commitment; something I am not sure all of the rest of the people talking understand.
One of the only other major reason we were annoyed with him leaving is that he was too much of a coward to even tell his team that he was leaving; I know, I have friends on the team, they were not told until he was already gone. That's just pathetic.
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TrojanHorse said:
posted on December 9, 2006 11:09 PM — 69.175.172.47 — link — abuse?as much as I understand where Idaho is coming from, did they really think Ericson was going to stay at freakin Idaho