Washington hires Boise State coach Chris Petersen

Chris Petersen, the Boise State coach who has said no to so many other big programs, has been named the next University of Washington football coach, the school announced Friday.

“On behalf of the University of Washington and the entire Husky Nation, I am proud to welcome Chris Petersen as our new head football coach,” Washington athletic director Scott Woodward said in a statement. “Coach Petersen’s success and record are extraordinary, but even more impressive is the man himself. His integrity, work ethic and character make him an outstanding fit and leader of our student-athletes at UW. We are thrilled and proud to call Coach Petersen a Husky.”

ESPN’s Joe Schad, who first reported the hire, reports that Petersen, who met with Washington athletic director Scott Woodward in Boise Thursday night, agreed to a deal that will make him one of the highest-paid coaches in the Pac-12.

Petersen compiled a 92-12 record at Boise State, taking the Broncos to a pair of BCS Bowl Games, both of which they won to complete undefeated seasons in 2006 and 2009. Petersen’s sustained success led him to be linked to many high-profile job openings in recent years, including those at Stanford and UCLA, and most recently, the USC job that ended up going to Steve Sarkisian.

According to ESPN’s report, Petersen was ready to finally leave Boise State because he was ready for a new challenge and “because the timing was right for professional and family reasons, and because he felt Washington was the right fit.”