Utah State announces ‘intent to terminate’ former Arkansas State head coach Blake Anderson from Aggies top job

LOGAN, Utah ( ABC4 Sports ) – Utah State head football coach Blake Anderson has been notified of USU’s “intent to terminate his employment” over actions taken in Spring 2023.

“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,” USU officials said in a statement.

USU said Anderson has 14 days to respond to the university’s intent to terminate his employment agreement. The University said it is unable to release any more information until Anderson has had an opportunity to respond and/or appeal, per Utah’s public records laws and USU policies.

Moments before USU announced their intent, ESPN’s Pete Thamel noted Anderson Blake Anderson was placed on administrative leave and unlikely to return to the team.

USU Vice President and Director of Athletics Diana Sabau met with student-athletes and football program staff to inform them of the changes and share that Defensive Coordinator and Defensive Ends Coach Nate Dreiling will serve as the interim head football coach for the 2024 season.

The timing is especially concerning to the football team, with Mountain West Conference Media Days scheduled to begin on July 10th, and training camp set to open next month.

Aggie players still could enter the transfer portal if they decide not to play for Dreiling this season.

Star safety Ike Larsen posted on X an emoji of a broken heart.

Going into his fourth year in the program, Anderson has compiled a record of 23-17 at Utah State, winning the Mountain West Conference Championship in his first season in 2021. The Aggies, however, have gone 6-7 in back-to-back seasons since, losing in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in December.

In a statement, Sabau and USU President Elizabeth Cantwell said as leaders they are responsible for ensuring allegations of USU policy violations are fully investigated, reiterating the point that the decision was a result of the investigation.

“Our job is to fearlessly hold ourselves and others accountable for their conduct and to make sure that, for the sake of our students and our community, we are living the values of our university,” Cantwell and Sabau said in a joint statement. “While recognizing the impact of these decisions on our student-athletes and football program, we will continue to take the steps necessary to deliver a respectful, transparent, and winning culture at Utah State University.”

Anderson’s wife just gave birth to a baby boy on June 29th.

Anderson’s personal life has been marked by tragedy. His first wife Wendy died of breast cancer in 2017, and his son Cason committed suicide in 2022. Anderson has been very vocal about the importance of mental health.

He previously served as coach at Arkansas State, going 51-37 from 2014 to 2020.

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