TEMPE, Ariz. -- Running down a checklist of qualities for a new football coach, Arizona State athletic director Lisa Love said she wanted someone who was energetic, liked to play up-tempo on offense and preferably had previous head-coaching experience.

Todd Graham seems to fit the bill.

Arizona State plucked Graham after one year at Pittsburgh on Wednesday, hiring the 47-year-old coach to replace Dennis Erickson, who was fired after five mediocre seasons.

"Criteria for our head coach was established, and the word that was at the forefront of discussions was 'energy' ... energy towards promoting our program in the community and with former players," Love said in a statement. "Energy towards instilling discipline, leadership and in recruiting. Energy towards representing our brand in every facet of the program. In Todd, we have not only hired a young and sitting head coach, but one with a history of success on the field and in hiring top-notch assistant coaches."

Graham informed his players of his departure in a text message.

"I have resigned my position at Pitt in the best interest of my family to pursue the head coaching position at Arizona State," the message sent to players said. "Coaching there has always been a dream of ours and we have family there. The timing of the circumstances have prohibited me from telling you this directly. I now am on my way to Tempe to continue those discussions. God Bless. Coach Graham."

Arizona State was looking for someone to turn its faltering program around after it failed to live up to expectations under Erickson.

A two-time national championship coach with Miami, Erickson led the Sun Devils to the 2007 Holiday Bowl and was named Pac-10 coach of the year. Arizona State couldn't sustain the momentum after that, failing to become bowl eligible the next three seasons and foundering down the stretch this year, losing its final four games after a 6-2 start.

Erickson was fired on Nov. 28, though he will coach the Sun Devils against Boise State in the MAACO Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 22.

After a couple of flirtations with other established coaches, Arizona State turned to Graham, who had been tabbed to turn around Pitt's program just a year earlier.

A former assistant under new Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez at West Virginia, Graham had a successful stint in his first year as a head coach in 2006, leading Rice to its first bowl appearance in 45 years. He left the Owls after just one season for Tulsa, where he led the Golden Hurricane to the first back-to-back 10-win seasons in school history.

A defensive player and coach coming up through the ranks, Graham made his mark with an up-tempo offense that made Tulsa a perennial Conference-USA contender. The Golden Hurricane twice led the nation in total offense and his 2007 team set 29 school records, 15 conference marks and four NCAA records, including the largest margin of victory in a bowl game, 63-7 over Bowling Green in the GMAC Bowl.