Erickson denies talking to Arizona St.
The squirming has officially begun in Vandal Nation.
Idaho football coach Dennis Erickson is disputing a report in an Oregon newspaper that he’s talked with Arizona State officials about the job opening at the Pac-10 school. The article cited a source close to the process.
“I don’t know where he (Oregonian columnist John Canzano) is getting his information,” Erickson, who is in California recruiting, said Tuesday morning. “I think they’re just beginning with that (ASU’s search). I wouldn’t be surprised if somebody did call, but I haven’t heard anything.”
Erickson, however, said that he would be interested if contacted by Arizona State, which is replacing Dirk Koetter.
“I’d probably take a look at it,” said Erickson, whose hiring in February elated long-suffering Vandal fans. Season ticket sales soared immediately as the football program eyed a return to prominence under Erickson, who guided Idaho to a 32-15 record during his first stint with the Vandals from 1982-85.
Idaho went 4-8 in Erickson’s first season back, but the year wasn’t without some breakthroughs. The Vandals won their first three Western Athletic Conference games, setting up a first-place showdown with rival Boise State. The Broncos pulled away late to win 42-26 in front of a packed house at the Kibbie Dome on Oct. 21 and Idaho lost its last five games.
Erickson, 59, has been successful at two different Pac-10 stops. He took Washington State to a bowl game in his second season in 1988 and he led Oregon State to three bowls in four seasons from 1999-2002.
After his second season in Corvallis, Erickson was courted by USC, but he decided to stay put. Arizona State athletic director Lisa Love was an assistant athletic director at USC at the time, but Erickson said he doesn’t know Love.
Love isn’t commenting on the search, but several names have been mentioned in Arizona newspapers, including Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Mike Martz (a former ASU assistant), Boston College head coach Tom O’Brien and Titans assistant coach Dave McGinnis, formerly head coach of the Arizona Cardinals.
ASU is hoping to make a splash with its new coach and Erickson would fit the profile. He won two national titles at Miami and has coached in the NFL with Seattle and San Francisco.
Idaho athletic director Rob Spear said Tuesday afternoon he hasn’t heard from ASU officials regarding Erickson. It’s considered protocol for schools to request permission from the AD before contacting prospective coaches.
“I haven’t heard a thing,” Spear said.
Erickson acknowledged after the season finale Nov. 25 that the rebuilding job he faces at Idaho is tougher than he anticipated. The Vandals haven’t had a winning season since 1999 and Erickson has made no secret that facilities upgrades are imperative to rebuilding the program.
Idaho has played in the Kibbie Dome since 1975 and is formulating plans to refurbish the building. Spear said if things went as planned renovations would be ready for the 2008 season at the earliest – with the exception of the probable addition of artificial turf before the 2007 season.
Asked if Erickson might be frustrated by the slow pace, Spear said, “He could be, I don’t know.”