Utah State Fires Football Coach Blake Anderson
In a shocking turn of events, Utah State University announced on Thursday that it has officially fired football coach Blake Anderson. This decision comes just two weeks after the school had notified Anderson of its intent to terminate his contract. The news has sent shockwaves through the college football community, as Anderson had been at the helm of the Aggies for the past four seasons.
The decision to fire Anderson was based on what Utah State described as “significant violations of his contractual obligations related to USU’s employee reporting requirements.” The school stated that Anderson had failed to comply with the reporting requirements, which include a prohibition on employees outside the USU Office of Equity from investigating issues of sexual misconduct, including domestic violence. Additionally, Anderson was accused of failing to manage the team in a manner that reflects the university’s academic values.
Anderson did respond to the allegations within the 14-day window provided by the school, submitting a 70-page response through his attorney, Tom Mars. In his statement, Mars expressed the belief that Utah State’s decision and the manner in which it was communicated violated the terms of Anderson’s employment agreement and the implied covenant of good faith. Mars indicated that they would be pursuing all available legal remedies on Anderson’s behalf.
The investigation that led to Anderson’s termination reportedly stemmed from a domestic violence incident in April 2023. The school also announced the dismissal of Jerry Bovee, a deputy athletic director, and Austin Albrecht, director of player development and community, who were part of the same investigation.
With Anderson’s departure, defensive coordinator Nate Dreiling has been appointed as the interim coach for the Aggies for the upcoming season. Anderson leaves behind a record of 23-17 during his tenure at Utah State, including a 6-7 campaign in 2023.
Prior to his time at Utah State, Anderson had a successful coaching career, including a stint at Arkansas State where he compiled a 74-54 record over seven seasons. He had led the Aggies to an 11-3 finish in his first season in 2021, culminating in a victory at the LA Bowl and a ranking in the Associated Press Top 25.
Utah State is set to open the season against Robert Morris on August 31, with Dreiling now tasked with guiding the team through a tumultuous period of transition. The college football world will be watching closely as the Aggies navigate this unexpected change in leadership.
–Field Level Media
