Fired Utah State Football Coach Set On Responding With Legal Action
More details have emerged about Utah State University football coach Blake Anderson, weeks after the program placed the coach on administrative leave.
The program put Anderson on leave two weeks ago over alleged violations of university policy. Aggies defensive coordinator Nate Dreiling will serve as interim coach.
Anderson went 23-17 at Utah State since joining in 2021, with an overall coaching record of 74-54.
Anderson's attorney, Tom Mars, released a statement on Thursday, conveying that Anderson and his legal team will pursue action against Utah State.
"We were disappointed to learn this evening that Utah State University has terminated the employment of head football coach Blake Anderson," the statement read.
The program alleged that Anderson had breached university policy by failing to promptly report incidents of sexual assault and domestic violence.
They released a statement after giving the coach their intent to terminate his contract.
"Coach Anderson's legal team believes this decision - as well as USU's deliberately inflammatory July 2nd press release - violate the terms of Coach Anderson's Employment Agreement and the implied covenant of good faith. We will be pursuing all available legal remedies on his behalf.
"Coach Anderson will be issuing his own statement at the appropriate time."
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Head coach Blake Anderson of the Utah State Aggies looks on during the first half of his team's game against the New Mexico Lobos at University Stadium on November 24, 2023 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
Utah State confirmed the coach's dismissal with a statement:
"This action is based on significant violations of his contractual obligations related to US's employee reporting requirements. 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 reflected USU's academic values.
"Consistent with Anderson's employment agreement, the university provided him written notice of its intent to terminate and 14 days to respond. 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."
Head coach Blake Anderson of the Utah State Aggies. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
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