When Erickson was introduced as the head coach of the Washington State Cougars of the Pac-10 on January 7, 1987, he stated that it was his lifelong goal to be the head coach at WSU in 1987 was a five-year deal at an annual base salary of $70,000, with up to $30,000 from radio, television, and speaking to the Palouse after just 13 months in Wyoming, then led the Cougars to in his first year, the same record the Cougars had the year before under Jim Walden. Erickson turned around the Washington State program quickly, going in 1988 with a post-season victory in the Aloha Bowl, WSU's first bowl win since the 1916 Rose Bowl. Erickson's continued success led to his hiring by the University of Miami although a week before he stated he was not leaving WSU.