SEATTLE -- Keith Gilbertson, who served as Rick Neuheisel's offensive coordinator for four seasons, replaced him as the University of Washington's head coach Tuesday.

Gilbertson received a four-year contract with an annual compensation package of $870,000 one day after the Huskies made Neuheisel's firing official.

	Keith Gilbertson, left, begins a new era at Washington.

"We're very fortunate to have a person on our staff with the background and experience to assume the head coaching position," UW Athletic Director Barbara Hedges said at a campus news conference attended by former coach Don James.

In 1991, when the Huskies won a national championship under James, Gilbertson was the team's offensive coordinator.

At 55, Gilbertson becomes the oldest head coach in Washington history.

Hedges fired Neuheisel for breaking NCAA gambling rules by participating in neighborhood pools during the past two NCAA basketball tournaments.

Hedges also said Neuheisel wasn't forthcoming when first questioned by NCAA investigators.

Washington has said it was firing Neuheisel "with cause." That means he will receive no more money from the balance of his contract, and he will have to repay a $1.5 million loan received last August.

Under a six-year contract extension he signed last September, Neuheisel earns $1.21 million a year, with incentives that could reach $1.46 million. His contract provided that he would have to repay the loan if he did not remain as head coach through the end of the contract in 2008.

Gilbertson had an opportunity to leave UW and become an assistant coach in the NFL this season when Dennis Erickson was hired as coach of the San Francisco 49ers.

Gilbertson, who had been an assistant under Erickson with the Seattle Seahawks from 1995-98, said he was tempted by the chance to return to the pros. Still, Gilbertson decided he wanted to stay and coach senior-to-be quarterback Cody Pickett and junior-to-be wide receiver Reggie Williams, who are the stars of the Washington offense.

"I visited with Dennis the day he got the job, but I just didn't feel it was the time to leave Washington," Gilbertson said.

Erickson did everything but offer Gilbertson a job.

"He asked me, 'Are you ready to roll?'" Gilbertson said. "I said, 'You know, I think I really want to take one more shot here.'"

Gilbertson was the head coach at Idaho from 1986 to 1988 and at California from 1992 to 1995. He had a combined record of 48-35 at those two schools over seven seasons.

Gilbertson first came to the UW as a graduate assistant coach in 1976 under James. He rejoined the Huskies in 1989 and was with them until after the 1991 season. He went to work for Neuheisel when Hedges hired Neuheisel away from the University of Colorado in 1999.

"What's taken place has been hard on everybody," Gilbertson said of Neuheisel's firing. "It's been hard on our alums, it's been hard on our fans, it's been hard on our team, it's been hard on Barbara and it's been hard on Rick Neuheisel and his family."

"I really enjoyed working with Rick and being on his staff," he said. "We shared a lot in common in terms of offensive thinking and I appreciate him giving me a chance to come back to the University of Washington because he knew it meant an awful lot to me. So I want to thank Rick Neuheisel. He and I are going to be friends."

Gilbertson announced two additions and two title changes on the Washington coaching staff.

Scott Pelluer was named an assistant coach to fill Gilbertson's position on the staff and Theron Aych joins the staff as a defensive graduate assistant coach.

John Pettas, the Huskies' quarterbacks coach, takes on the added responsibilities as offensive coordinator, the title that Gilbertson held. Defensive line coach Randy Hart, who is in his 16th season with the Washington program, has added the duties of assistant head coach.