George Erickson lettered at Willamette 10 time- in football (3), basketball (3) and baseball (4). He began his teaching and coaching career at Grants Pass High School, then took a similar position at St. Helens High School. He moved to Roseburg High School in 1947, where he was a social science teacher, head baseball coach, and assistant football and basketball coach. Erickson became Roseburg's principal after earning a Master's of Science degree from the University of Southern California in 1949. In 1953, he became principal at Beaverton High School, a position he held for 14 years until moving across town to the new Sunset High School in 1967, where he remained until 1977. Erickson, a veteran of World War II, served as president of the Oregon Association of Secondary School Principals.