Dennis Erickson, a former American football coach with a distinguished career spanning over 47 years, has left an indelible mark on the sport. From coaching various college teams to leading NFL teams, Erickson’s coaching prowess is evident. With an impressive coaching record and two national titles with the Miami Hurricanes, Erickson’s legacy in football is one of greatness. Despite retiring in 2016, his impact on the game continues to be felt.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Dennis Brian Erickson
- Age: 76 Years, 76 Year Old Males
- Family:
- Spouse/Ex-: Marilyn Erickson
- Father: Robert, Robert “Pink” Erickson
- Mother: Mary Erickson
- Children: Bryce Erickson, Ryan Erickson
- Born Country: United States
- Coaches
- American Football Players
- Height: 5’8″ (173 cm), 5’8″ Males
- Notable Alumni: Montana State University
- U.S. State: Washington
- More Facts
- Education: Montana State University
Childhood & Early Life
Dennis Brian Erickson, later known as Erickson, was born on March 24, 1947, in Everett, Washington. His parents were Robert “Pink” Erickson and Mary Erickson. He grew up in Ferndale, Washington and attended Everett High School, where he played as a quarterback. Erickson graduated from high school in 1965 and received a football scholarship to Montana State University in Bozeman. He played under head coach Jim Sweeney during his time at Montana State. In 1969, he became a graduate assistant coach at Montana State, and the following year, he became the head coach at Billings Central High School. Erickson also played as a running back for Montana State from 1971 to 1973 while pursuing his bachelor’s degree in physical education. During his college years, he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
Career
Erickson began his coaching career as a graduate assistant for the Montana State Bobcats football program in 1969. In 1970, he made his debut as the head coach at Billings High School, which kickstarted his career. He then went on to serve as a college assistant offensive coach at Montana State University in 1971 and as an offensive coordinator at the University of Idaho under head coach Ed Troxel for two seasons. Erickson moved to Fresno State in 1976 and became the offensive coordinator there. He later joined San Jose State in 1979 and served as their offensive coordinator for three seasons.
In 1982, Erickson became the head coach at the University of Idaho. He remained with the team for four seasons and became the team’s “all-time winningest head coach” due to his reputation as an offensive innovator. Erickson then became the head coach of the Wyoming Cowboys in 1985 but left after one season to serve as the head coach at Washington State. In 1987, he joined the Washington State Cougars of the Pac-10 and led the team to their first bowl victory since 1916.
Erickson’s most successful coaching tenure came when he joined the Miami Hurricanes of the University of Miami in 1989. He led the team for six seasons and won two national championships, making him the most successful coach in the history of the program. Under Erickson’s leadership, Miami won numerous awards and set records, including the NCAA Division-I record for consecutive wins at home.
After his time at Miami, Erickson had coaching stints with the Seattle Seahawks, Oregon State Beavers, San Francisco 49ers, and the University of Idaho again. He then became the head coach of the Arizona State Sun Devils in 2006 and received the title of Pac-10 Coach of the Year in 2007. Erickson retired from coaching multiple times but made a brief comeback in 2018 as the head coach of the Salt Lake Stallions in the Alliance of American Football.
Family & Personal Life
Erickson’s father was a head football coach at Ferndale High School and Cascade High School in Everett. Erickson is married to Marilyn and they have two sons named Bryce and Ryan. Bryce followed in his father’s footsteps and pursued a career in coaching, serving as a graduate assistant at Arizona State before becoming a head coach at South Albany High School in Oregon. He later joined the coaching staff at Idaho.