Utah State intends to dismiss head coach Blake Anderson, the school announced Tuesday. ESPN reported Tuesday morning Anderson was placed on administrative leave, and that the team was informed ahead of the school's public announcement that he would not return as head coach.
From the school:
Utah State University officials informed Head Football Coach Blake Anderson on Tuesday of their intent to terminate his employment agreement for actions taken in spring 2023. These actions violated both his employment agreement and university policy. Under his employment agreement Coach Anderson will have 14 days to respond
This decision comes after a thorough external review of alleged noncompliance with university policies that implement Title IX, which require full and timely reporting of disclosures of sexual misconduct — including domestic violence — and prohibit employees from investigating disclosures of sexual misconduct themselves.
Associate Vice President & Deputy Athletic Director of External Affairs Jerry Bovee (Interim Athletic Director, 2023) and Utah State Football Director of Player Development & Community Austin Albrecht have also been dismissed for violations of university policies related to the reporting of sexual and domestic violence and failures of professional responsibilities.
Consistent with Utah’s public records laws and USU policies, the university is not able to release any additional information until all opportunities to respond and/or appeal have expired, which is a minimum of 14 days.
This morning, USU Vice President & Director of Athletics Diana Sabau met with the student athletes and staff of the football program to inform them of these changes and to share that Defensive Coordinator & Defensive Ends Coach Nate Dreiling will serve as USU’s interim head football coach for the 2024 season.
Defensive coordinator Nate Dreiling has been appointed interim head coach.
Anderson, 55, was in the midst of preparing for his fourth season leading the Aggies. Following an 11-3 debut with a Mountain West championship and a No. 24 final AP ranking, Utah State posted two 6-6 regular seasons with bowl losses in 2022 and '23.
Overall, Anderson went 23-17 at Utah State and sits at 74-54 when including his 7-year run at Arkansas State.
Anderson has overcome numerous tragedies in his personal life while maintaining his coaching career. His first wife, Wendy, died of brain cancer in 2019, and in 2022 his 21-year-old son Cason died by suicide.
Anderson and his second wife, Brittany, welcomed a child on June 29.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.