Murphy Will Stay at Fullerton : Titans’ Coach Loses Washington St. Job to Wyoming’s Erickson

Wyoming’s Dennis Erickson confirmed Tuesday night that he will sign a five-year contract to become Washington State University’s football coach, ending Gene Murphy’s hopes of getting the Cougar job.

Murphy, coach at Cal State Fullerton the past seven years, had been a finalist for the position. Since guiding the Titans to a 7-5 record in 1983, Murphy has also been a finalist for coaching jobs at Missouri, Oregon State and Utah.

Murphy, attending a coaches’ convention in San Diego, could not be reached for comment Tuesday night, but Fullerton Athletic Director Ed Carroll was relieved at the news.

“Obviously, we’re very happy that Gene Murphy is our coach and will continue to be,” Carroll said.

Murphy’s career record at Fullerton is 37-44, with his best season in 1984, when the Titans went 11-1. Fullerton slipped to 3-9 last season.

Erickson, who arrived at Spokane International Airport Tuesday night, said he decided to accept WSU’s offer Monday night in San Diego, where he was attending the NCAA convention. He said he pondered the WSU vacancy for more than a week.

“It’s good to be back,” Erickson told the Associated Press. “I’ve always wanted to coach at WSU. . . . It’s where I want to coach; that’s the bottom line.”

Erickson fills the vacancy left by Jim Walden, who resigned Dec. 15 after nine years as coach to take the head coaching position at Iowa State.

Erickson, 39, is an Everett, Wash., native whose father, Pinky Erickson, was an assistant at WSU from 1968-1973 under former Coach Jim Sweeney.

WSU scheduled a news conference for this morning to introduce Erickson, who spent only one season at Wyoming after coaching four seasons at the University of Idaho, which is only eight miles from Washington State.