Already on the hot seat entering the year, four straight losses to close out an ugly 2011 campaign are expected to cost Dennis Erickson his Arizona State head coaching job.
The latest sign pointing in the direction of a firing is a report from the Arizona Republic, which writes that “ASU football... likely will lose its coach this week” and that, citing multiple sources, “his dismissal could come soon.”
The Associated Press reports that Erickson is scheduled to meet with athletic director Lisa Love in the coming days to discuss his future with the football program. Barring an unexpected development, that future is expected to include a firing.
With USC ineligible for the Pac-12 championship game, ASU was the heavy preseason favorites to win the South crown and advance to the inaugural conference title game. The Sun Devils looked the part in opening conference play at 4-1. However, a loss to UCLA -- the South winner thanks to ASU fumbling away a lead in the divisional race -- jump started the Sun Devils’ four-game slide that will ultimately lead to Erickson’s demise despite becoming bowl eligible for the first time since 2007.
“I don’t know that I have ever been through a month like this,” Erickson said following the loss to Cal Friday night. “It was hard to see our team play like we did as we went into the month with so many things that we could have done. We were sitting there 6-2 with confidence and playing like heck. We felt that we had the chance to have a great year then you lose four in a row and just end up with a very, very average year. ...
In his fifth season at the school, Erickson is 31-30 overall and 21-25 in Pac-12 play. His current deal expires Jan. 15, 2013.