LOGAN, Utah-
4:20 pm
Thamel reported Anderson retained the services of noted college athletics attorney Tom Mars. Mars believes Utah State faces an “uphill battle” in firing Anderson for cause. Mars believes Anderson is being punished for what his supervisor, Sabau, was supposed to be doing.
11:31 am
Utah State officials revealed the cause for Anderson’s situation late this morning. The university attests Anderson will have 14 days to respond concerning actions he committed that violated his employment agreement and university policy. The decision comes after a thorough external review of alleged noncompliance with university policies that implement Title IX. This requires full and timely reporting of disclosures of sexual misconduct, including domestic violence, and prohibits employees from investigating disclosures of sexual misconduct themselves.
Furthermore, Associate Vice President & Deputy Athletic Director of External Affairs Jerry Bovee and Utah State Football Director of Player Development & Community Austin Albrecht have 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 record laws and USU policies, the university is unable to release any additional information until all opportunities to respond and/or appeal have expired. This period is a minimum of 14 days.
Utah State athletic director/vice president Diana Sabau met with football players to discuss the situation. Sabau and Utah State president Elizabeth (Betsy) R. Cantwell sent an email to USU faculty and staff concerning the matter.
10:45 am
Action Network College Football Insider Brett McMurphy stated Sabau told the Aggies’ football staff Anderson’s leave of absence stemmed from an investigation. A source confirmed “It didn’t sound good.”
9:39 am
Defensive coordinator Nate Dreiling has been named as the interim head coach. Dreiling played college football as a linebacker at NCAA Division II power Pittsburg State (Kan.) and later spent time with the NFL’s Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs as well as the Omaha Mammoths of the now-defunct Fall Experimental Football League. In 2015-16, Dreiling became a graduate assistant at Kansas. He has spent his entire coaching career in the collegiate ranks. He was a safeties coach at Pittsburg State (2017), the Gorillas’ defensive coordinator (2018-19), a defensive analyst at Oregon (2020), a defensive run game/inside linebackers coach at NCAA FCS Southeast Missouri State (2021), and the defensive coordinator at New Mexico State (2022-23). Dreiling newly came to Logan in the 2024 season.
9:19 am
Pete Thamel, a college football senior writer for ESPN added to the report, stating it is “unlikely” Anderson will return to his post as the Aggies’ head coach for the upcoming season.
9:04 am
Per news released Tuesday morning, Utah State University has placed head football coach Blake Anderson on administrative leave effective immediately.
As of this time, no further details have been provided.
In three years at Utah State, Anderson has posted a record of 23-17 (.575) and is 74-54 (.478) as a Division I head football coach, having coached at Arkansas State from 2014-2020.
Days ago, Anderson became a new father. Utah State starts the season August 31 by hosting NCAA FCS Robert Morris at Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium.
