49ers Clubhouse

San Jose Mercury

Biographical information

February 11, 2003

Compiled from OSU bio and staff reports
Coaching history
2001 - Oregon State Head Coach
Dennis suffered only his second losing season in 16 years as a collegiate head coach in 2001 as the Beavers finished 5-6. Dennis was enshrined into the state of Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame on March 16, 2002.
2000 - Oregon State Head Coach
Brought the Beavers to a 11-1 record in 2000, the best record in school history. The Beavers were co-champions of the Pacific-10 Conference, along with Washington and Oregon. Dennis was named Coach of the Year in the Pacific-10 Conference and national Coach of the Year by The Sporting News. The American Football Coaches Association also selected him as Coach of the Year in Region V. He was runner-up for the Associated Press Coach of the Year Award.
1999 - Oregon State Head Coach
He coached Oregon State to a 7-4 regular season record and a 7-5 record overall, the Beavers’ first winning season since 1970. Erickson became the first OSU coach in history to lead his team to a bowl appearance in his first year as head coach.
1995-1998 - Seattle Seahawks Head Coach
Record: The Seahawks were 8-8 in Erickson’s rookie season as head coach in 1995, and followed with marks of 7-9 (1996) and 8-8 in 1997 and 1998. The ‘97 club produced the NFL’s top rated passing offense (274.4 yards per game). In four seasons the Seahawks had a four-year record of 31-33-0 (.484).
1989-1994 - University of Miami Head Coach
He compiled an NCAA best 63-9-0 record (.875) in six seasons, and won national championships in his first season of 1989 and again in 1991. Erickson became only the second head coach in NCAA history to win a national championship in his first season at a school. The Hurricanes finished the 1989 regular season 10-1, losing only to Florida State. His 1990 squad finished 10-2 and ranked third in the nation. In 1991, Miami posted a perfect 12-0 mark, winning a share of the national title with Washington. After both the 1991 and 1992 seasons he was named Big East Coach of the Year. In 1993 Miami finished 9-3 and was ranked 15th nationally, while in 1994, the Hurricanes were 10-2, ranking sixth in the nation.
1987-88 - Washington State University Head Coach
After a 3-7-1 season, the Cougars improved to 9-3-0 in 1988. His QB Timm Rosenbach, led the nation in passing efficiency.
1986 - University of Wyoming Head Coach
He installed his "Air Express" attack in place of the wishbone and turned around a 3-8 team to a 6-6 record and finished second in the nation in passing offense.
1982-85 - University of Idaho Head Coach
Four season record: 32-15-0 (.681), producing 9-4-0 in 1982; 8-3-0 in 1983; 6-5-0 in 1984; and 9-3-0 in 1985. Erickson was named Big Sky Coach of the Year both seasons and the 1985 team captured the school’s first conference title in 14 seasons.
1979-81 - San Jose State University Offensive Coordinator
In 1979 Erickson became SJSU offensive coordinator and quarterback coach under Coach Jack Elway. Record: 6-4-1 in 1979, 7-4 in 1980 and 9-3 in 1981. In 1980, San Jose State ranked eighth nationally in passing with 246.5 yards per game. The 1981 San Jose State team ranked seventh nationally in total offense (426.5) per game, sixth in scoring (32.3 points a game) and 10th in passing offense (269.9 yards per game). During three years with the Spartans, Erickson produced a 4-5 record vs. Pac-10 teams and was involved in one of the biggest upsets in college football in 1980.
1976-78 - Fresno State Offensive Coordinator
In 1976 he became offensive Coordinator at Fresno State University and quarterback coach for Coach Jim Sweeney. Record: a 5-6-0 record in 1976 and 9-2-0 in 1977. Under Coach Bob Padilla, FSU produced a 3-8-0 record in 1978.
1974-75 - University of Idaho Offensive Coordinator
In 1974 Erickson became the University of Idaho offensive coordinator and QB coach in 1974, under Coach Ed Troxel. Record of 2-8-1 in 1974 and 4-5-2 in 1975.
1971-73 - Montana State University Offensive Coach
In 1971 he returned to Montana State University as offensive backfield coach under Sonny Holland. Three-year record of 2-7-1 in 1971, 8-3 in 1972 and 7-4 in 1983. Big Sky Championship win in 1982.
1970 - Washington State Assistant Coach
Spring: graduate assistant coach working Coach Jim Sweeney at Washington State. Fall: He moved to Billings, Montana, as the head coach at Billings Central High School with a record of 7-2 before a loss in the state championship.
1969 - Montana State University Graduate Assistant
Graduate assistant at Montana State University under Coach Tom Parac.
Background notes
* Native of Everett, Washington.
* His father, Robert (Pink) Erickson, was a successful high school coach at Ferndale High School and Cascade High School in Washington.
* Erickson played as starting QB for three years at Montana State University from 1966 to 1968 when he earned first-team All-Big Sky Conference honors in 1967 and ‘68.
* Overall: Seventh winningest Division 1-A active college head coach.
* Win record: 136-52-1 in 16 years as head coach.Winning percentage of .722, and is ninth for total victories.

Tell us what you think on the new 49ers Clubhouse message board.

Compiled from OSU bio and staff reports

Coaching history

2001 - Oregon State Head Coach
Dennis suffered only his second losing season in 16 years as a collegiate head coach in 2001 as the Beavers finished 5-6. Dennis was enshrined into the state of Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame on March 16, 2002.

2000 - Oregon State Head Coach
Brought the Beavers to a 11-1 record in 2000, the best record in school history. The Beavers were co-champions of the Pacific-10 Conference, along with Washington and Oregon. Dennis was named Coach of the Year in the Pacific-10 Conference and national Coach of the Year by The Sporting News. The American Football Coaches Association also selected him as Coach of the Year in Region V. He was runner-up for the Associated Press Coach of the Year Award.

1999 - Oregon State Head Coach
He coached Oregon State to a 7-4 regular season record and a 7-5 record overall, the Beavers’ first winning season since 1970. Erickson became the first OSU coach in history to lead his team to a bowl appearance in his first year as head coach.

1995-1998 - Seattle Seahawks Head Coach
Record: The Seahawks were 8-8 in Erickson’s rookie season as head coach in 1995, and followed with marks of 7-9 (1996) and 8-8 in 1997 and 1998. The ‘97 club produced the NFL’s top rated passing offense (274.4 yards per game). In four seasons the Seahawks had a four-year record of 31-33-0 (.484).

1989-1994 - University of Miami Head Coach
He compiled an NCAA best 63-9-0 record (.875) in six seasons, and won national championships in his first season of 1989 and again in 1991. Erickson became only the second head coach in NCAA history to win a national championship in his first season at a school. The Hurricanes finished the 1989 regular season 10-1, losing only to Florida State. His 1990 squad finished 10-2 and ranked third in the nation. In 1991, Miami posted a perfect 12-0 mark, winning a share of the national title with Washington. After both the 1991 and 1992 seasons he was named Big East Coach of the Year. In 1993 Miami finished 9-3 and was ranked 15th nationally, while in 1994, the Hurricanes were 10-2, ranking sixth in the nation.

1987-88 - Washington State University Head Coach
After a 3-7-1 season, the Cougars improved to 9-3-0 in 1988. His QB Timm Rosenbach, led the nation in passing efficiency.

1986 - University of Wyoming Head Coach
He installed his "Air Express" attack in place of the wishbone and turned around a 3-8 team to a 6-6 record and finished second in the nation in passing offense.

1982-85 - University of Idaho Head Coach
Four season record: 32-15-0 (.681), producing 9-4-0 in 1982; 8-3-0 in 1983; 6-5-0 in 1984; and 9-3-0 in 1985. Erickson was named Big Sky Coach of the Year both seasons and the 1985 team captured the school’s first conference title in 14 seasons.

1979-81 - San Jose State University Offensive Coordinator
In 1979 Erickson became SJSU offensive coordinator and quarterback coach under Coach Jack Elway. Record: 6-4-1 in 1979, 7-4 in 1980 and 9-3 in 1981. In 1980, San Jose State ranked eighth nationally in passing with 246.5 yards per game. The 1981 San Jose State team ranked seventh nationally in total offense (426.5) per game, sixth in scoring (32.3 points a game) and 10th in passing offense (269.9 yards per game). During three years with the Spartans, Erickson produced a 4-5 record vs. Pac-10 teams and was involved in one of the biggest upsets in college football in 1980.

1976-78 - Fresno State Offensive Coordinator
In 1976 he became offensive Coordinator at Fresno State University and quarterback coach for Coach Jim Sweeney. Record: a 5-6-0 record in 1976 and 9-2-0 in 1977. Under Coach Bob Padilla, FSU produced a 3-8-0 record in 1978.

1974-75 - University of Idaho Offensive Coordinator
In 1974 Erickson became the University of Idaho offensive coordinator and QB coach in 1974, under Coach Ed Troxel. Record of 2-8-1 in 1974 and 4-5-2 in 1975.

1971-73 - Montana State University Offensive Coach
In 1971 he returned to Montana State University as offensive backfield coach under Sonny Holland. Three-year record of 2-7-1 in 1971, 8-3 in 1972 and 7-4 in 1983. Big Sky Championship win in 1982.

1970 - Washington State Assistant Coach
Spring: graduate assistant coach working Coach Jim Sweeney at Washington State. Fall: He moved to Billings, Montana, as the head coach at Billings Central High School with a record of 7-2 before a loss in the state championship.

1969 - Montana State University Graduate Assistant
Graduate assistant at Montana State University under Coach Tom Parac.

Background notes

* Native of Everett, Washington.
* His father, Robert (Pink) Erickson, was a successful high school coach at Ferndale High School and Cascade High School in Washington.
* Erickson played as starting QB for three years at Montana State University from 1966 to 1968 when he earned first-team All-Big Sky Conference honors in 1967 and ‘68.
* Overall: Seventh winningest Division 1-A active college head coach.
* Win record: 136-52-1 in 16 years as head coach.Winning percentage of .722, and is ninth for total victories.

Tell us what you think on the new 49ers Clubhouse message board.