Rocket 7
02-08-2006, 06:24 PM
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2323160
Dennis Erickson was named the new head coach at the University of Idaho on Wednesday.
"You can be successful at Idaho," Erickson told ESPN's Joe Schad before the official announcement was made. "I coached there more than 20 years ago and things have changed. We were Division I-AA then. So things are different, but good. I'm excited about getting back into coaching. It was so hard for us to be out of it this past year. I wanted to get back into this so badly."
Erickson replaces Nick Holt, who quit Monday.
Erickson, 58, turned Idaho into one of the top teams in Division I-AA when he coached the Vandals from 1982-85. He went on to compile a 144-57-1 record as a head coach at Idaho, Wyoming, Washington State, Miami and Oregon State. His Miami teams won national championships in 1989 and 1991. He had less success in the NFL, going 31-33 in four years at the helm of the Seattle Seahawks and 9-23 in two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, who fired him after the 2004 season.
Erickson said he still receives $2.5 million per year from the 49ers. He was fired with three years left on his five-year, $12.5 million contract.
"It's not about the money, it's about coaching," Erickson said. "I'm a coach. It's all I've done all my life. Making me sit out last year made me appreciate it even more."
Between the two NFL jobs he revived a moribund Oregon State program, directing the Beavers to a 31-17 record, including a school-best mark of 11-1 and a 41-9 victory over Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl in the 2000 season.
Idaho interviewed at least three other candidates -- Montana State head coach Mike Kramer, Arizona assistant Kasey Dunn and Idaho assistant head coach Jeff Mills.
The Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday that Holt, a day after saying he was leaving Idaho to become the defensive line coach for the St. Louis Rams, had instead been hired by Southern California as defensive coordinator. Holt rejoins USC head coach Pete Carroll, whom he served as linebackers coach from 2001-2003.
Holt, 43, led Idaho into the Western Athletic Conference and compiled a 5-18 record with the Vandals, including 2-9 last year.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Dennis Erickson was named the new head coach at the University of Idaho on Wednesday.
"You can be successful at Idaho," Erickson told ESPN's Joe Schad before the official announcement was made. "I coached there more than 20 years ago and things have changed. We were Division I-AA then. So things are different, but good. I'm excited about getting back into coaching. It was so hard for us to be out of it this past year. I wanted to get back into this so badly."
Erickson replaces Nick Holt, who quit Monday.
Erickson, 58, turned Idaho into one of the top teams in Division I-AA when he coached the Vandals from 1982-85. He went on to compile a 144-57-1 record as a head coach at Idaho, Wyoming, Washington State, Miami and Oregon State. His Miami teams won national championships in 1989 and 1991. He had less success in the NFL, going 31-33 in four years at the helm of the Seattle Seahawks and 9-23 in two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, who fired him after the 2004 season.
Erickson said he still receives $2.5 million per year from the 49ers. He was fired with three years left on his five-year, $12.5 million contract.
"It's not about the money, it's about coaching," Erickson said. "I'm a coach. It's all I've done all my life. Making me sit out last year made me appreciate it even more."
Between the two NFL jobs he revived a moribund Oregon State program, directing the Beavers to a 31-17 record, including a school-best mark of 11-1 and a 41-9 victory over Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl in the 2000 season.
Idaho interviewed at least three other candidates -- Montana State head coach Mike Kramer, Arizona assistant Kasey Dunn and Idaho assistant head coach Jeff Mills.
The Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday that Holt, a day after saying he was leaving Idaho to become the defensive line coach for the St. Louis Rams, had instead been hired by Southern California as defensive coordinator. Holt rejoins USC head coach Pete Carroll, whom he served as linebackers coach from 2001-2003.
Holt, 43, led Idaho into the Western Athletic Conference and compiled a 5-18 record with the Vandals, including 2-9 last year.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.