For Arizona State coach Dirk Koetter, his parting shot won't be an uncontested layup.

Koetter, who was fired the day after the regular-season finale, must find a way for his Sun Devils to keep pace against the nation's scoring leader — Hawai'i — in today's Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl at Aloha Stadium.

After being informed of the dismissal, Koetter agreed to coach in this game. Under Koetter, the Sun Devils had four winning seasons in six years. This is their third consecutive bowl appearance.

"I grew up in the business," said Koetter, whose father was a successful high school and college coach. "I loved it. He warned me about this. But that's OK."

Dennis Erickson, who was head coach of Miami's national championship teams in 1989 and '91, has been named as Koetter's successor.

"In two years, Dennis Erickson will be speaking at a Coach of the Year ceremony," UH defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville said. "Dirk Koetter built a very good program. Dennis Erickson is walking into a gold mine, and Dirk Koetter is getting the shaft."

UH coach June Jones tried to offer encouragement to Koetter.

"I feel for him," Jones said. "He's done a great job, and he's a great person. Unfortunately, things go that way sometimes. Just like I told him, six years from now, he'll be looking back and saying, 'Wow, that's the best thing that ever happened to me.' It won't seem like that now. But something good will happen. He'll parlay this into a positive situation. Life is that way."

While ASU players say they will play for Koetter, UH quarterback Colt Brennan said: "We're playing for our seniors. We want them to go out on a good note."

Here's a look at today's game:

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.