Pullman, WA -- (Sports Network) - Washington State University named Paul Wulff the school's new football coach on Tuesday.

Wulff had been the head coach at Eastern Washington since 2000. The Eagles were 53-40 with Wulff as coach, going 9-4 this past season. Eastern Washington lost in the quarterfinals of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs to two- time defending champion Appalachian State.

"Obviously this has been a dream of mine since I joined the coaching profession," said Wulff. "It is my alma mater, a university with great tradition and a program I feel very strongly about. WSU is an important place in my development as a human being with respect to the university culture. Being named head coach is the biggest honor I have ever received and I am excited about the opportunity."

Wulff replaces Bill Doba. The decision for Doba not to return was mutual.

"We conducted an extensive national search and met with some outstanding candidates," said WSU director of athletics Jim Sterk. "In the end I feel we hired the best person for the job. Paul has had success as a head coach, has great passion for this job and this university, and is a man of great character and integrity."

In his five seasons guiding the Cougars, Doba compiled a 30-29 record, winning three Apple Cups with wins over Washington and compiling the third-best winning percentage among WSU football coaches serving five or more years.

Doba became Washington State's 30th head football coach December 18, 2002, after serving as an assistant for 14 years at the school. They were left out of a bowl game for a fourth straight year following a 5-7 finish in 2007.