Statement on the dismissal of Blake Anderson from Utah State Football, who is the Aggies’ interim coach

The Utah State football team opened its 2024 season after a tumultuous offseason with a big 36-14 win over Robert Morris in Week 1.

In his debut as coach, Nate Dreiling led the Aggies to a season-opening victory over Robert Morris despite offseason turmoil. Quarterback Bryson Barnes passed for 198 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 88 yards and a touchdown.

Utah State travels to Los Angeles on Saturday to face No. 14 USC in the Trojans' home opener. USC is coming off a 27-20 win over LSU in its season opener.

REQUIRED READING: College football predictions for Week 2: Expert picks for Michigan-Texas and every top-25 game

While the Colonials are an FCS team, the Aggies' victory (1-0) came after players watched their head coach get fired in July following an investigation by the school. Dreiling was named interim coach on July 2 and hired as defensive coordinator in January, allowing him to stay at the school for only a short time before the season.

Here's what you need to know about Utah State's firing of Blake Anderson, interim head coach and more:

Why did Utah State fire Blake Anderson?

Utah State notified Anderson of its intent to “terminate his employment agreement for actions taken in spring 2023.” The school ruled that Anderson's actions violated his employment agreement and university policies and gave him 14 days to respond. Anderson was terminated for operational reasons on July 18, with the school citing “significant violations.”

According to the termination letter sent to the coach in July, Anderson was fired for contacting a possible victim of domestic violence and witnesses to the incident after the arrest of a Utah State player and for failing to properly report the case. Assistant athletic director Jerry Bovee and football staff member Austin Albrecht were also fired after they were found to have violated university policies on reporting domestic and sexual violence.

An outside investigation found that Anderson failed to comply with Utah State Title IX policies, which require “timely reporting of sexual misconduct and domestic violence and prohibit employees from investigating reports of sexual misconduct themselves.”

“While I recognize that today's decision has significant implications, it is the only one that could be made based on the facts. We are committed to moving forward with building a successful athletic program based on student success and integrity,” USU President Elizabeth Cantwell said at the time.

An outside investigation found that Anderson failed to comply with Utah State Title IX policies, which require “timely reporting of sexual misconduct and domestic violence and prohibit employees from investigating reports of sexual misconduct themselves.”

Anderson's attorney, Tom Mars, stated on X (formerly Twitter) that “all available legal remedies” would be exhausted against the school. Anderson himself responded to the school's termination letter, saying he was fired for “convenience” and not for cause. He also called the investigation that led to his firing a “hoax.” He also claimed he was not required to report under USU policy, but his actions satisfied the reporting requirement.

Blake Anderson Record

Before taking the job at Utah State, Anderson served as head coach at Arkansas State from 2014-2020, replacing Bryan Harsin, who took over the coaching position at Boise State. Anderson led the Red Wolves to six consecutive bowl games and won two Sun Belt Conference championships.

Here's a look at Anderson's coaching record:

• 2014 (State of Arkansas): 7-6, 5-3 Sun Belt

• 2015: 9-4, 8-0 Sun Belt

• 2016: 8-5, 7-1 Sun Belt

• 2017: 7-5, 5-2 Sun Belt

• 2018: 8-5, 5-3 Sun Belt

• 2019: 8-5, 5-3 Sun Belt

• 2020: 4-7, 2-6 Sun Belt

• 2021 (State of Utah): 11-3, 6-2 Mountain West

• 2022: 6-7, 5-3 Mountain West

• 2023: 4-7, 2-6 Mountain West

Who is the interim coach of the Utah State football team?

Defensive coordinator Nate Dreiling was named interim coach, replacing Anderson. Dreiling played linebacker for Pittsburg State from 2009-13 and helped the Gorillas win the NCAA Division II National Championship in 2011 with a 35-21 victory over Wayne State (Med.). This is the 33-year-old's first head coaching position.

Dreiling signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2014. After the Packers released him, he signed with the Kansas City Chiefs but never appeared in an NFL game. He then played for the Omaha Mammoths in 2014 and 2015 of the Fall Experimental Football League (FXFL).

He began his coaching career as an assistant at Kansas in 2015. His alma mater hired him as a safeties coach in 2017 before he was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2018. In 2020, then-Oregon coach Mario Cristobal hired Dreiling as a defensive analyst. In 2021, Southeast Missouri State hired him as defensive run game coordinator and middle linebackers coach. He was hired as defensive coordinator under Jerry Kill at New Mexico State.

Dreiling was introduced as the Aggies' new defensive coordinator in early January. He was promoted to interim coach on July 2. He began the season by leading Utah State to a 36-14 victory over Robert Morris.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Utah State's Blake Anderson firing: Why was Anderson fired by the Aggies?