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Erickson signs contract extension
Updated: Saturday December 02, 2000 6:09 PM
CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) -- Dennis Erickson, who coached Oregon State to its best record ever, signed a new seven-year contract Saturday that could earn him nearly $7 million. Erickson's new deal supersedes the five-year contract he signed in January. "We have built something very special here the last two years and we want to continue to build on what we have done," Erickson said. "We want to build facilities and continue to make this one of the better programs in the country. "This will give us some longevity and stability in our football program." The signing brought to an end speculation that Erickson would take the coaching vacancy at Southern California. Erickson's name had also been mentioned in connection with the job at Arizona State, which was filled Friday night by Boise State coach Dirk Koetter. Erickson guided the No. 5 Beavers to a 10-1 record this season and a share of the Pac-10 Conference championship. In 1999, Erickson led OSU to a 7-5 finish -- their first winning season in 28 years and their first bowl appearance since 1965. The new deal calls for Erickson to make a base salary of $625,000 in 2001, with incentives that could push the figure to over $800,000, according to school officials. The base salary escalates with each year of the contract and gives Erickson an opportunity to earn between $6.5 million and $7 million during the seven-year period. Erickson was in the second year of a five-year contract that paid him about $600,000 a year.
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