Tuesday Update> Sources tell FootballScoop this search continues...
Original article>
History, they say, repeats itself. Well, in this case, it appears Utah State officials are hoping that is the case.
Following the 2008 season, after nearly 50 years of Utah State teams failing to win 9 games in a season and more recently with their program averaging 3 wins per year for the most recent decade, Utah State officials hired Utah associate head coach Gary Andersen to rebuild their program. Andersen took them to never before seen heights, winning 11 games in 2012 and setting the stage for Matt Wells' (Andersen's offensive coordinator that year) run as head coach of the Aggies these last six years. Since hiring Andersen, the Aggies have won 10 or more games 3 times.
Well, today source tells FootballScoop Aggie leadership is planning to hire Andersen again (barring any unforeseen complications), once again pulling him from Utah where he once again currently serves as associate head coach.
After Andersen's Aggies had their eleven win season in 2012, Barry Alvarez scooped him up to lead Wisconsin. Following two seasons leading the Badgers, during which his teams won 9 & 11 games and won their division of the Big Ten, Andersen was courted by Oregon State and agreed to take over that program. Andersen didn't find the same success at Oregon State, going 7-23 in 2 1/2 seasons before stepping down. He joined Kyle Whittingham's staff for the 2018 season and helped Utah win the Pac-12 South.
Clearly Utah State leadership has high expectations and believes Andersen is the man to keep their program winning or in competition for conference championships.
Utah State AD John Hartwell is using DHR's Glenn Sugiyama to assist with the search. Sugiyama prides himself on no details of his searches becoming public. Accordingly, source was unable to comment on timing of the expected hire. Once more is clear on that front we will update. In the past, when word got out in front of Sugiyama's searches he has been known to change plans...
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest coaching job information.
[Featured image credit above: Douglas C. Pizac - US PRESSWIRE]