The Zeitgeist List · coaching

Dennis Erickson

Followed Dirk Koetter. Dennis Erickson slid Arizona State from National Program I to Power Program III in 5 seasons.

Peak, then fade
147–81
1986–2011 · 6 stints
WyomingWashington StateMiamiOregon StateIdahoArizona State
← all coaches

Career arc

His real stature score, season by season, across every program he’s coached — so a stretch that stays in one tier the whole way can still climb or sink on the line, not just flatten out. Node color marks the tier reached. Which program a stretch belongs to is carried by the shaded lane behind it.

Stature score reached, by season of his head-coaching careerWYOMINGWASHINGTON STMIAMIOREGON STATEIDAHOARIZONA STATEDynastythe sport's summitBlue Bloodpermanent top tierPower Programperennial contenderNational Programrespectable, streakyRegional Programthe building-block levelWyoming, 1986: 6-6, Regional Program II1986-0.1Washington State, 1987: 3-7, Regional Program I1987Washington State, 1988: 9-3, National Program III1988+2.2Miami, 1989: 11-1, Dynasty1989Miami, 1990: 10-2, Blue BloodMiami, 1991: 12-0, DynastyMiami, 1992: 11-1, DynastyMiami, 1993: 9-3, DynastyMiami, 1994: 10-2, Blue Blood1994+9.2Oregon State, 1999: 7-5, Regional Program III1999Oregon State, 2000: 11-1, National Program IIOregon State, 2001: 5-6, National Program IIOregon State, 2002: 8-5, National Program II2002+20.9Idaho, 2006: 4-8, Regional Program VI2006-1.5Arizona State, 2007: 10-3, Power Program III2007Arizona State, 2008: 5-7, National Program IArizona State, 2009: 4-8, National Program IArizona State, 2010: 6-6, National Program IArizona State, 2011: 6-7, National Program I2011-2.0One point per coached season, in career order; dashed segments are program changes — spacing is not proportional to calendar time

Reached Dynasty in his 4th career season — faster than 67% of the 15 FBS coaches who have ever reached Dynasty (rank #4 of 15 by seasons-to-arrival).

Washington State, 2 seasons
+2.2
Regional Program I → National Program III.
Miami, 6 seasons
+9.2
Dynasty → Blue Blood.
Oregon State, 4 seasons
+20.9
Regional Program III → National Program II.
Arizona State, 5 seasons
−2.0
Power Program III → National Program I.

The big-game ledger

How he does in the games that matter most — rivalry record, performance broken out by real opponent tier, one-score games, and his toughest historical matchup.

12–9 against his rivals. Winless in 5 tries against Pete Carroll.

Rivalry record
12–9
57.1% · 7 rivals
One-score games
28–28–1
49.1% · margin ≤8
vs. Blue Blood or better
6–9
40.0%
Rivalry ledger
Florida State4–267%
Oregon2–250%
Arizona2–250%
Virginia Tech3–0100%
Washington1–150%
Colorado State0–10%
Boise State0–10%
The toughest matchup
vs. Pete Carroll0–5
5 meetings, 2001–2009
’01 L’02 L’07 L’08 L’09 L
0% win rate across a real, 5-meeting series — short of the bar this site uses before badging a series “Nemesis.” Shown here as the toughest matchup on record, not an algorithmic crown.
Performance by opponent class
Blue Blood
6–9 40.0%
Power Program
34–40 45.9%
National Program
51–21 70.8%
Regional Program
40–9 81.6%

Coaching career

2007–2011
Arizona Statecaretaker
National Program I → Power Program III
Dennis Erickson slid Arizona State from National Program I to Power Program III in 5 seasons.

7th-best Arizona State tenure of 19 by the numbers.

Followed Dirk Koetter (2001–2006) · succeeded by Todd Graham (2012–2017).

Where the roster comes from, by position
Grows Running back from high school
100%
#196 of 208 stints
Grows Interior line from high school
100%
#198 of 224 stints

16 NFL Draft picks: Zach Miller (2007), Andrew Carnahan (2007), Mike Pollak (2008), Justin Tryon (2008), Robert James (2008), Ryan Torain (2008), Josh Barrett (2008), Paul Fanaika (2009) + 8 more

31–31
2006–2006
Idahocaretaker
Regional Program V → Regional Program VI
Dennis Erickson slid Idaho from Regional Program V to Regional Program VI in 1 season.

7th-best Idaho tenure of 7 by the numbers.

Followed Nick Holt (2004–2005).

4–8
1999–2002
Oregon Statebuilderborderline
Regional Program III → National Program II
Dennis Erickson raised Oregon State from Regional Program III to National Program II.

4th-best Oregon State tenure of 17 by the numbers.

11 NFL Draft picks: Bryan Jones (1999), Armon Hatcher (1999), Tim Alexander (1999), Chad Johnson (2001), DeLawrence Grant (2001), Mitch White (2001), T.J. Houshmandzadeh (2001), James Allen (2002) + 3 more

31–17
1989–1994
Miamisustainer
Blue Blood → Dynasty
Dennis Erickson kept Miami a national power for 6 seasons.

1st-best Miami tenure of 20 by the numbers.

Followed Jimmy Johnson (1984–1988) · succeeded by Butch Davis (1995–2000).

37 NFL Draft picks: Bill Hawkins (1989), Cleveland Gary (1989), Bubba McDowell (1989), Melvin Bratton (1989), Cortez Kennedy (1990), Jimmie Jones (1990), Bernard Clark (1990), Willis Peguese (1990) + 29 more

63–9
1987–1988
Washington Statecaretaker
National Program III → National Program III
Dennis Erickson held Washington State at National Program III for 2 seasons.

10th-best Washington State tenure of 21 by the numbers.

Followed Jim Walden (1978–1986) · succeeded by Mike Price (1989–2002).

4 NFL Draft picks: Ricky Reynolds (1987), Kitrick Taylor (1987), Kerry Porter (1987), Mike Utley (1989)

12–10
1986–1986
Wyomingcaretaker
Regional Program II → Regional Program II
Dennis Erickson held Wyoming at Regional Program II for 1 season.

15th-best Wyoming tenure of 22 by the numbers.

Followed Al Kincaid (1981–1985) · succeeded by Paul Roach (1987–1990).

6–6