College Football Coach Fired One Month Prior To Season

Utah State head coach Blake Anderson was officially fired Thursday (July 18), just over a month before the team's first game of the 2024 college football season.

Utah State officials initially informed Anderson, 55, of their intention to terminate his employment agreement for "significant violations of his contractual obligations related to USU's employee reporting requirements" in relation to alleged "issues of sexual misconduct, including domestic violence" that took place in the spring, according to a statement shared on the school's website .

"These reporting requirements include a prohibition on employees outside the USU Office of Equity from investigating issues of sexual misconduct, including domestic violence. Additionally, Anderson failed to manage the team in a manner that reflects USU’s academic values," the school said.

An investigation into Anderson was launched and the coach was notified of the school's intention to fire him earlier this month.

"Consistent with Anderson’s employment agreement, the university provided him with written notice of its intent to terminate and 14 days to respond," the school said. "To USU’s disappointment, Anderson’s response failed to acknowledge his responsibilities as a USU employee and as a head coach and instead sought to make excuses and unsuccessfully recast the clear language of USU’s policies."

Defensive coordinator and defensive ends coach Nate Drelling will serve as Utah State's interim head coach entering the 2024 season, which will kickoff with a matchup against Robert Morris on August 31. Anderson went 74-54 during three seasons with the Aggies, which included winning the Mountain Division title during his first season in 2021.