Topic: Dennis Erickson

Dennis Erickson (born March 24, 1947, in Everett, Washington) is the head coach of the Arizona State Sun Devils football team. He has been the head coach of six college football programs and two NFL franchises.

Erickson was raised in Ferndale, WA, 100 miles north of Seattle, and in Everett, twenty five miles north of Seattle. His father, Robert "Pinky" Erickson, was a high school head football coach at Ferndale High School before becoming the head coach at Cascade High School in Everett. The younger Erickson played quarterback at the rival Everett High, coached by next-door neighbor, Bill Dunn. This "made for some quiet dinners on game day." As a junior, Dennis was the starting quarterback, beating out the former starter, senior Mike Price, another future college head coach.

Price, the son of the head coach of Everett Junior College, was moved to defense (as a safety). When Erickson left Washington State in 1989, he recommended Mike Price as his replacement, who got the job, and rented Erickson's Pullman home. Erickson had beaten out Price for the job in 1987. Six years earlier in 1981, Price had beaten Erickson out for the job at Weber State in Ogden, Utah. While at Idaho, Erickson was 2-2 vs. Price's Weber teams. At Oregon State, Erickson was 2-1 against Price's Washington State teams, not playing in 2002.