Idaho may hire Erickson
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060208/SPORTS/602080327/1006
Idaho expected to name either Kramer or Erickson
By SCOTT MANSCH
Tribune Asst. Sports Editor
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One way or another, it looks like there will be a homecoming today for the University of Idaho football program.
And a Bobcat will be involved. It appears that either Dennis Erickson, who was the head man at Idaho 20 years ago, or Montana State's Mike Kramer, a former Vandal star lineman who has coached the Bobcats the last six years, will be named head football coach at the school.
"I'm very, very interested in Dennis Erickson," said Idaho Athletic Director Rob Spear, a Butte native and former College of Great Falls basketball star.
Spear said Erickson, the ex-MSU great who won two national championships at Miami (Fla.), rebuilt a moribund program at Oregon State and also coached NFL teams in Seattle and San Francisco, will be in Moscow, Idaho, today to talk about the job.
Erickson's wife, Marilyn (Selley), is from Great Falls and met her husband when he was a star quarterback for the Bobcats.
Erickson has turned down several opportunities recently to return to the NFL as an offensive coordinator.
"He's been biding his time," said Faye Selley of Great Falls, Erickson's mother-in-law. "Actually, I think what he's interested in is going somewhere where he can really do some good."
While Erickson lives in San Jose, Calif., Selley said her son-in-law is now building a new home on Lake Coeur d'Alene, about a 45-minute drive from the Idaho campus.
The Idaho opening was created last weekend when Nick Holt resigned as Vandals' head coach in order to join the staff of Scott Linehan with the NFL's St. Louis Rams.
Late Tuesday, there were reports that Holt was on the move again and would take a job as defensive coordinator at Southern California.
Kramer was in Moscow Monday, huddling with Spear.
"Mike had a very productive interview," said Spear. "I love his energy and his passion. I really like what Mike Kramer brings to the table ... And the thing I love most is that he's an Idaho Vandal."
Kramer, who has a 32-38 record at Montana State and has led the Bobcats to a share of the Big Sky Conference championship three times in the last four years, confirmed his interest in the job late Tuesday afternoon.
"We just sat down real quickly and had an informal chat," said Kramer, who grew up not far from the Idaho campus in Colton, Wash., and was in the area last weekend to visit the parents of his wife, Sandi. "They were extremely preliminary discussions and that's all ... They let it be known that Dennis Erickson was their first choice."
Spear said he also has interviewed holdover coach Jeff Mills, who was Holt's top assistant. Michigan State assistant Mike Cox, who has Idaho ties, is also believed to have interviewed for the job.
Spear said he expects to offer someone a job today. He said the multi-year package will be worth about $250,000 annually.
Kramer currently makes about $120,000 at Montana State. Multi-year contracts for state employees are not allowed.
It is expected that Kramer, who started 36 games at Idaho from 1972-75, would not need to be asked twice to more than double his salary — even though the Vandals have been one of the worst NCAA I-A programs in the country ever since leaving the I-AA Big Sky a decade ago.
Should Kramer leave, it's also expected the Montana State Athletic Director Peter Fields would move quickly to gauge the interest of highly successful Carroll College coach Mike Van Diest, who has led the Saints to the last four NAIA national championships.
As of late Tuesday though, Kramer had not resigned.
"This is a wonderful place I coach at," he said. "There are great people here, and I have a great bunch of guys to work with ... The fact is I've got a great job in a great place." Erickson, 58, has been out of coaching since he was fired by the 49ers following the 2004 season. He has a career record of 144-57-1 in 17 years as a college head coach at Idaho, Wyoming, Washington State, Miami (Fla.) and Oregon State. He won national championships at Miami in 1989 and '91. Erickson posted a 32-15 record at Idaho from 1982-85. The Vandals have struggled mightily since moving from I-AA to I-A in 1996. Idaho has has six straight losing seasons and was 5-18 in Holt's two seasons on the job.
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